Lanier Tallies 28 in Gritty Road Win at Charleston Southern

Thursday, November 9

Charleston, S.C.

7 p.m.

University of North Florida

2-0,0-0ASUN

Charleston Southern

1-1,0-0Big South

North Florida

Charleston So.

Chaz Lanier dribbling at the top of the three-point line

Lanier went for a career-high 28 points, his first game surpassing the 20-point mark at UNF.

Photo by: Brock Borgeson

11/9/2023 9:53:00 PM | Men's Basketball

Box Score

Ospreys Erase 10-Point First Half Deficit

CHARLESTON, S.C. - Chaz Lanier lit up the stat sheet from the opening tip-off, pouring in a career-high 28 points as the Ospreys overcame a 10-point deficit and took down Charleston Southern on the road (1-1), 81-70, Thursday, Nov. 9.

After not leading for more than 20 minutes in the middle portion of the game, UNF remained resilient and clawed ahead to its first lead of the second session with 12:33 to go. UNF would outscore the Bucs by 10 the rest of the way and hold on for the win.

FINAL SCORE
CHSO | 70
UNF | 81

INSIDE THE BOX SCORE
1st Half

Ametri Moss hit a floater for UNF's first bucket as both sides traded baskets … Chaz Lanier hit a three from the wing to give UNF a 9-6 lead at the first media timeout … UNF retained its three-point lead at the under-12 media timeout as Jake van der Heijden hit a corner three on a crosscourt pass from Jaylen Smith … Charleston Southern went on an 8-0 run to take a 21-16 lead, but Lanier lined up his second three-pointer of the game to slow Charleston Southern's run … the Bucs expanded their lead to ten at 29-19, but Lanier got to the line and van der Heijden got a good bounce off a three-pointer as the Ospreys started a 6-0 run … Trent Coleman connected on a three towards the end of the half, but Charleston Southern got one to go off the glass as the Bucs held a 37-33 lead at the break.

2nd Half

A quick 4-0 run out of the break tied things up, but Charleston Southern regained the lead, 42-39, at the under 16 media timeout … both offenses found their rhythm over the next few minutes, with Lanier converting three-pointers on consecutive trips down the floor … he would also work a three-point play to give UNF a 50-49 lead, its first since early in the first frame … Charleston Southern got the lead back but Smith hit a long stepback three-pointer for a 53-51 lead at the under 12 media timeout … Smith got the rim for two and Jah Nze made both free throws to put UNF up, 58-54, with 9:32, the largest Ospreys lead of the game so far… he continued to work, making a layup and hitting a wide-open three for a 63-54 UNF lead … North Florida got some important buckets down low to maintain a 68-64 lead at the final media timeout … Lanier hit both free throws out of the media timeout to bring the lead to 70-64 … van der Heijden hit a huge three to take the lead to 73-66 … up four, the Ospreys got a stop, breakaway dunk from Lanier and a tough bucket from Ametri Moss to take a 77-70 lead with a minute left.

COACH DRISCOLL'S COMMENTS

.@UNFBBALL follows up after tonight's 81-70 road W at Charleston Southern, bringing UNF to 2-0 on the year ??#BirdsofTrey pic.twitter.com/XNBDEhpJ86
— UNF Men's Basketball (@OspreyMBB) November 10, 2023

.@Swaggychaz was all business tonight - hear from him after his career game #BirdsofTrey pic.twitter.com/Edz5Le7BMk
— UNF Men's Basketball (@OspreyMBB) November 10, 2023

BY THE NUMBERS

CHARLESTON SO.

RJ Johnson | 25 points
Taje' Kelly | 19 points, 12 rebounds
DJ Patrick | 11 points

NORTH FLORIDA

Chaz Lanier | 28 points, 8-9 FTs
Ametri Moss | 10 points
Dorian James | 7 points, 5 rebounds
Jaylen Smith & Jake van der Heijden | 9 points each

NOTABLES

It was the fifth all-time meeting between the two teams
Lanier posted consecutive double-digit scoring games to start the season. His previous career-high point total was 15
Moss has also tallied consecutive double-digit performances to start his career
North Florida has won three-straight wins against Charleston Southern
It's UNF's first 2-0 start to the season since the 2015-16 campaign
It is also UNF's first win in the road opener since that same season
UNF hit 22 of 26 free throws
North Florida converted double-digit three-pointers for the second-straight game, shooting 45.8 percent from deep

UP NEXT
North Florida gears up for another non-conference game in South Carolina at South Carolina State Monday, Nov. 13.