JACKSONVILLE, Fla. - Despite staring down a 19-point deficit at halftime, North Florida men's basketball (7-18, 3-8 ASUN) exhibited grit and resilience to claw away at as large as a 21-point Bellarmine lead Wednesday night. UNF overcame the deficit and a few missing pieces, using a 15-3 run to get within 71-69 with 24 seconds left. But, Bellarmine staved off a trio of UNF-scoring opportunities in North Florida's 73-70 loss to the Knights (14-11, 8-3 ASUN) in the inaugural meeting between the two teams.
The Knights led 48-29 at the intermission, shooting 54.1 percent while posting a staggering 16 assists in the first 20 minutes of play. The Ospreys answered by outscoring Bellarmine, 41-25, while
Jarius Hicklen and
Emmanuel Adedoyin combined to score all 22 of their points in the second session to help mount the comeback.
With 36 seconds left,
Dorian James made a tough bucket down low off a feed from
Jonathan Aybar to make it 71-69 Knights. Having to foul, Bellarmine missed the front end of its first of two one-and-one opportunities. With a chance to win the game with a bucket,
Chaz Lanier came up just short on a three-pointer from the wing in front of the Ospreys' bench, with the Knights grabbing the defensive board with 20 seconds on the clock.
Bellarmine missed the first half of a one-and-one yet again, putting the Ospreys in the same spot down two with under 20 seconds. Still down two,
Jonathan Aybar was fouled down low with three seconds on the clock. The forward had his second free throw go long as Bellarmine grabbed the board and hit the next two free throws following a UNF foul.
Jarius Hicklen put up one last heave with 1.2 seconds on the clock, although the shot bounced off the iron.
INSIDE THE BOX SCORE
1st Half
- Jordan Preaster and Jarius Hicklen had the hot hand early, scoring 13 of UNF's first 18 points as the Ospreys chased Bellarmine by just two at 20-18 … just then Bellarmine tallied an 11-0 run that propelled the Knights to a double-digit lead into the break … Bellarmine's Sam DeVault did all of his damage early before fouling out midway through the second half … the forward hit four three-pointers in a short span and Dylan Penn dished out eight assists in the first half alone … Bellarmine didn't commit a turnover in the first half, leading the entire frame.
2nd Half
- Slowly but surely, UNF garnered some momentum … Adedoyin hit a three-pointer following a crosscourt pass from Jarius Hicklen, getting UNF within 11 for the first time all half with 8:36 to go …the Bellarmine lead ballooned back to 14 with 5:24 to go in the game, but that's when UNF's run kicked in … sparked by Hicklen and Adedoyin in the absence of a pair of starters, UNF posted a 15-3 run to set up the late-game dramatics … UNF got within one possession for the first time since being down 20-18 at the 2:17 mark on a Chaz Lanier fast break layup … Bellarmine only scored four more points the rest of the way, but it was enough for the Knights to hold on.
BY THE NUMBERS
BELL
- CJ Fleming | 25 points, 10-for-20 FGs
- Ethan Claycomb | 13 points, 7 rebounds
- Dylan Penn | 9 assists, 7 rebounds, 5 points, 2 blocks, 2 steals
UNF
NOTABLES
- This was the first-ever meeting between these two teams.
- Hicklen has reached double-digit points in eight consecutive games.
- The Knights led for over 39 minutes of the game.
- North Florida drew 25 fouls.
- The teams combined to have three players foul out.
- UNF shot a season-high 33 free throws.
- It was UNF's second-straight game without Carter Hendricksen.
- This was UNF's first game in five contests in which it didn't have at least two 20-point scorers.
- This was UNF's second-largest deficit at the half on the year, only to the road game at No. 2 UCLA.
- Aybar posted his second double-double on the year.
COACH DRISCOLL'S COMMENTS
NEXT UP
North Florida heads to Kennesaw State Saturday, Feb. 12.
