ORANGEBURG, S.C. - North Florida outscored SC State (2-1) by nine in the second half and got five double-digit scoring performances, but an early deficit was too much to overcome as the Ospreys (2-1) dropped their first game of the season in an 87-77 loss to the Bulldogs (2-1) Monday, Nov. 13.
UNF trimmed down what was a 20-plus point deficit to single digits in the second frame, using 88.9 percent shooting from the line and a flurry of three-pointers late. But, not enough time remained as UNF split its two-game road stint in South Carolina.
FINAL SCORE
SCST | 87
UNF | 77
INSIDE THE BOX SCORE
1st Half
- Nate Lliteras got to the rim for a layup, but that was it for UNF's scoring before the first media timeout as SC State held an 8-2 advantage through five minutes … Chaz Lanier got UNF on the board from deep with a three as North Florida cut into the lead … the Bulldogs expanded their advantage to 22-9 after a series of transition buckets … North Florida got into the paint and to the line to get a few buckets back … SC State held a 34-24 at the final media timeout of the first … the Bulldogs would take a 19-point lead into the break.
2nd Half
- Lanier threw down a dunk straight out of the half and Lliteras converted all three of his free throws after being fouled from beyond the arc … but SC State stayed aggressive and scored in transition to expand its lead to 57-35 under 16 minutes … Jah Nze hit a corner three-pointer and Dorian James tapped in a miss to give UNF a 5-0 spurt just past the under 12 media timeout, forcing an SC State timeout … that momentum carried to the under eight media timeout as the Ospreys were carried to a 13-2 run, fueled by another Nze three-pointer and one from Jaylen Smith on the wing … the final media timeout saw SC State with a double-digit lead … Lanier threw down an alley-oop and answered an SC State tip slam with a crucial three from the wing … North Florida got the lead down to 10 with another Lanier dunk at the 1:38 mark … UNF stayed in the hunt when Lanier hit another vital three-pointer with 1:19 to go, getting UNF within ten points for the first time since early in the first half … North Florida got a rebound off an SC State free throw miss, but the Bulldogs were able to get a stop to slow the momentum.
COACH DRISCOLL'S COMMENTS
BY THE NUMBERS
SC STATE
- Davion Everett | 7 points, 10 rebounds
- Omar Croskey | 21 points, 5 rebounds
- Wilson Dubinsky | 11 points
NORTH FLORIDA
NOTABLES
- It was the second meeting between these two teams all-time
- UNF hosted SC State in the first-ever game on the CSI Companies Court Nov. 19, 2022
- This marked UNF's final road non-conference game against a mid-major this year
- Lanier has posted double-digit scoring performances in all three games this year
- North Florida shot 88.9 percent from the line, going 24-for-27
- Nze was perfect from the line, going 6-for-6 for 12 points
- Ametri Moss' eight assists was a season high for the Ospreys
- Five Ospreys scored in double figures for the second time this year
UP NEXT
North Florida returns for the first of three games in its First Coast Classic MTE Thursday, Nov. 16 against Presbyterian.
