JACKSONVILLE, Fla. - On brand with this year's ASUN season, North Florida men's basketball found itself in a barnburner as it battled with FGCU Saturday, Feb. 19. For the third time in as many games, the Ospreys (10-18, 6-8 ASUN) emerged on the other side of the dust with a victory as they held off the Eagles (18-10, 8-6 ASUN), 70-64, from a boisterous UNF Arena.
Jadyn Parker's 16-point and 10-rebound double-double keyed a UNF offense, while three other Ospreys nabbed double-digit scoring nights in
Jarius Hicklen,
Jordan Preaster and
Jonathan Aybar.
North Florida mitigated FGCU's scoring threat in Tavian Dunn-Martin, holding the guard to a mere 2-for-19 from the floor and 2-for-10 from long range.
UNF ultimately capitalized on FGCU miscues, converting six more free throws than FGCU who shot only 50 percent from the line, missing eight. The Ospreys tallied 19 points following FGCU turnovers, while the Eagles posted just seven.
INSIDE THE BOX SCORE
1st Half
- Neither offense found it easy getting the ball in the bucket early as the Ospreys led 10-9 at the 13-minute mark … UNF got a spark from Emmanuel Adedoyin's traditional three-point play following a FGCU turnover at the top of the key … after an Eagle bucket, Jordan Preaster continued his hot-shooting ways from deep, hitting a three-pointer … FGCU went on a 5-0 spurt to get within 24-21, but that was just before a pair of Jarius Hicklen treys sandwiched a Preaster three-pointer … UNF crashed the boards to corral consecutive offensive boards prior to Preaster's three … UNF led 38-26 at the break.
2nd Half
- North Florida led by as much as 14 points at the 18:55 mark … with FGCU looking as it would not be able to reply, the Eagles crept back into the game quietly before tying the game noisily at 50-50 with 7:18 to go on a Kevin Samuel two-handed dunk … FGCU took a 53-50 advantage, its first of the half but last of the game … UNF has found the knack for closing out games late, and that was the case today as well, as North Florida outscored FGCU 20-11 down the stretch.
BY THE NUMBERS
FGCU
- Kevin Samuel | 14 points, 11 rebounds, 3 blocks
- Austin Richie | 12 points, 5 rebounds, 2 blocks
- Tavian Dunn-Martin | 10 points, 9 assists, 5 steals
UNF
- Jadyn Parker | 16 points, 10 rebounds, 2 blocks, 1 steal
- Jarius Hicklen | 13 points, 6 rebounds, 3 assists
- Jordan Preaster | 10 points, 4 rebounds, 1 assist, 1 steal
- Jonathan Aybar | 10 points, 5 rebounds, 2 steals
NOTABLES
- UNF split the season series against FGCU.
- The Ospreys are on their longest-winning streak of the season.
- North Florida has won five of its last six games and six of the last eight.
- Parker posted his first-career double-double in ASUN play. It was his third double-double of the year.
- Hicklen has scored in double-digits in 11-straight games.
- Preaster has posted consecutive double-digit scoring games for the first time this year.
- UNF has won three-straight ASUN games for the first time since Jan. 16-23 last year.
- Both teams had four in double-digit scoring.
COACH DRISCOLL'S COMMENTS
NEXT UP
The Ospreys go across town to take on Jacksonville Wednesday, Feb. 23.
