DELAND, Fla. - Jonathan Aybar had a career night, going for 26 points and 10 boards, but the hosts Hatters (7-6, 2-0 ASUN) fended off a series of UNF (6-8, 1-1 ASUN) pushes as the Ospreys were edged in a road battle, 68-62, down in DeLand. It's the third-straight game between UNF and Stetson that was decided by six points or less.
North Florida and Stetson were embroiled in a game that never had a lead balloon into double digits as things stayed within a possession or two for much of the contest. Aybar's 26-point effort was eight points greater than his previous career high. It was his third career-double-double and first this season.
Carter Hendricksen backed him up with a 15-point effort, his sixth-straight double-digit scoring game.
FINAL SCORE
NORTH FLORIDA | 62
STETSON | 68
INSIDE THE BOX SCORE
1st Half
- Hendricksen got a bucket down low, but the Hatters also took advantage in the paint as Stetson had an 8-2 lead at the first media timeout … Aybar proved unguardable in the paint over the next four minutes, recording eight points to get UNF within 13-11 at the second media timeout … Hendricksen drew fouls on consecutive successful field goals as he brought his point total up to seven points heading into the third media timeout … UNF trailed 20-17 with 7:07 to go in the first session … it was a defensive struggle over the next four minutes as both teams combined for six points … Jah Nze connected on UNF's first three-pointer of the ball game, cutting the deficit to 25-22 at the 2:52 mark … Jarius Hicklen converted on a deep three to trim the deficit to two as UNF trailed 29-27 after a physical first 20.
2nd Half
- Stetson started the half on a 10-3 run to open up the largest margin in the game as the Ospreys trailed 39-30, forcing a UNF timeout at the 15:46 mark … Chaz Lanier found Aybar open beyond the arc as Aybar hit a trey with the shot clock expiring, getting the Ospreys within six at 14:15 in the second … the Ospreys worked consecutive stops and Aybar hit two free throws, bringing the score to 41-35 Stetson at the under-12 media timeout … Hendricksen drilled a deep three-pointer to get UNF within 41-40 with 10:47 to go, although Stetson rattled off a quick 5-0 run … Hicklen responded with another trey to get UNF within a possession … Stetson replied again, bringing its lead to eight, but a 6-0 spurt from the Ospreys, which included a resounding alley-oop dunk from Hendricksen to Aybar, cut the deficit to 57-55 … Stetson got a dunk and a three to put the hosts up seven … Aybar got fouled in transition, hit two free throws and followed with another bucket to get UNF within three with 1:10 to go … Stetson's Josh Smith hit a stepback jumper but Jose Placer got the rim and converted, getting UNF to within 64-61 as the clock hit 30 seconds … the Hatters converted from the line late to close things out.
BY THE NUMBERS
NORTH FLORIDA
STETSON
- Josh Smith | 22 points, 12 rebounds
- Jalen Blackmon | 17 points
- Stephan Swenson | 7 points, 7 assists, 3 steals
NOTABLES
- It was the 36th meeting between the two teams
- It was UNF's fourth unique starting lineup used this season
- Aybar tallied his third double-digit scoring performance of the season and his second in three games
- Hendricksen posted his sixth-straight double-digit scoring game and his 12th on the year
- It was Aybar's third-career double-double and first of the year
- UNF is 12-8 all-time at Stetson
- UNF's bench outscored Stetson, 33-9
POSTGAME COMMENTS
"It was another night of fighting and scraping on the road in ASUN play today. We cut the deficit to two with just over three minutes to play, but we couldn't get a stop when we needed it as they were able to string together a few scores and make free throws. We made a lot of defensive errors, which is uncharacteristic of this team. To Stetson's credit, they made really big shots when it mattered most." -- head coach
Matthew Driscoll
UP NEXT
The Ospreys return home to host Kennesaw State Thursday, Jan. 5 at 7 p.m.
