JACKSONVILLE, Fla. - North Florida men's basketball had its eyes on staying undefeated at home against Liberty as well as its 10th-straight win at home, but the Flames' (16-5, 7-1 ASUN) second half push got in the way as the Ospreys (8-12, 3-5 ASUN) dropped Saturday's game, 73-62.
UNF had the lead at the half, using a 9-0 run to help establish a 37-35 lead at the break. The Flames countered with their own 9-0 run right out of the locker room, giving Liberty a lead it wouldn't let go of. North Florida got within two at 54-52 after
Jarius Hicklen hit a stepback three-pointer, although the Flames hung on over the final eight minutes.
Jose Placer paced the Ospreys with 19 points, while
Carter Hendricksen and
Jonathan Aybar chipped in with 14 apiece.
FINAL SCORE
INSIDE THE BOX SCORE
1st Half
- Hendricksen clearly held on to the hot hand that he had against Queens, posting nine quick points before the first media timeout to keep UNF within a possession … Liberty slowed the game down and crept its lead to 11 at 29-18, although UNF responded exactly when it needed to, closing the half shooting 57.7 percent while also getting huge buckets and energy from Aybar … the Ospreys finished the frame on a 19-6 run to take a two-point lead into the half.
2nd Half
- After missing minutes in the first half due to foul trouble, Kyle Rode hit a pair of three-pointers to help Liberty to a 9-0 run out of the intermission … UNF got some big stops and Hendricksen answered with a big three to cut the deficit back to four … Placer cut a seven-point deficit to four once more with a rainbow pull-up three-pointer at the 13:40 mark … the game was within five points over the next six minutes, with Liberty clinging to a slim 54-52 lead at the 6:58 mark … UNF got to the foul line, but could only generate two more field goals as the Flames retained the lead through the final buzzer.
BY THE NUMBERS
NORTH FLORIDA
LIBERTY
- Blake Preston | 17 points, 5 rebounds
- Joseph Venzant | 6 points, 13 rebounds
- Shiloh Robinson | 17 points, 10 rebounds
NOTABLES
- Hendricksen has posted 12-straight double-digit scoring games
- Hendricksen surpassed former teammate Garrett Sams for fifth all-time in UNF history for three-point field goals made. He is also tied with Beau Beech for fourth all-time in rebounds in UNF history
- Hendricksen also moved past Sams in games played, reaching 124, good for tied for eighth in UNF history
- North Florida had its nine-game home winning streak snapped. The winning streak dates back to UNF's 72-69 against Liberty last February
- UNF is 7-1 at home on the season. The Ospreys are now 3-1 all-time at home against Liberty
- Dorian James paced the Ospreys in rebounding for the second time this year and the 16th time in his career
- Placer posted the 13th double-digit scoring game of his season
POSTGAME COMMENTS
UP NEXT
North Florida gets back on the road Thursday for its first-ever road game at UCA Thursday, Jan. 26.
