JACKSONVILLE, Fla. - North Florida men's basketball (5-5) showed out for its home crowd against Edward Waters (2-7) highlighted by a strong second half that led to a 99-47 win on Tuesday afternoon at UNF Arena.
The Ospreys lead for most of the first half with 44 points scored, but went into the half with a 14-point lead against the Tigers. UNF came out of the break on fire from the field shooting 50% the rest of the way, as they outscored EWU, 55-17, in the second half.
Chaz Lanier led the way once again with a 21-point performance draining seven of nine field goal attempts, including five three-pointers. Three other Ospreys joined the junior with double figures in scoring, as
Nate Lliteras,
Oscar Berry and
Dorian James all contributed as veteran starters.
FINAL SCORE
North Florida (5-5) | 99
Edward Waters (2-7) | 47
INSIDE THE BOX SCORE
First Half
The Ospreys attacked fast from the opening tip with a Berry score within five seconds of the game starting...UNF found its footing early from the three-point line with back-to-back treys from James and Lliteras...another pair of threes were scored by
Jake van der Heijden and Lanier, followed with Lliteras returning from range to keep the lead...UNF went on a 8-0 after the 12-minute media in the first half finished capped off by a Berry three...Ospreys extended its lead to double digits after another Lanier make from distance at the 7:26 mark...
Ametri Moss found action just before there half with a contested layup to keep the 11-point margin...back-to-back scores for Lanier in the form of a dunk and buzzer-beating tip-in shot gave UNF a 44-30 lead going into the half.
Second Half
UNF returned from its break with more three-point makes with Lanier draining another from the corner...16 consecutive points were scored after the 18-minute mark highlighted by four three-pointers and a Moss dunk...
Jaylen Smith and
Trent Coleman continued the strong start to the second half with a pair of scores, followed with a three from
Jah Nze...Coleman returned with three minutes left with a breakaway dunk to extend the team's lead to 47 points over EWU...another dunk from Smith and a made three from
Brandon Rasmussen put it away, as the Ospreys finished the game not allowing the Tigers to score consecutive points for the entirety of the second half in a relentless 99-47 win at home.
BY THE NUMBERS
North Florida
Chaz Lanier | 21 points, 3 rebounds, 2 assists
Nate Lliteras | 14 points, 5 rebounds, 2 assists
Dorian James | 10 points, 6 rebounds, 2 assists
Trent Coleman | 6 points, 10 rebounds
Edward Waters
Jeremiah Kwarteng | 14 points, 7 rebounds, 3 steals, 2 assists
Goliath Mitchell | 12 points, 2 steals
Kristian Ford | 6 points, 4 rebounds
COACH DRISCOLL'S COMMENTS
NOTABLES
- Ospreys were one three-pointer short of sharing the program-best record with 20 total on the night.
- Lanier earned his third 20+ point performance of the season.
- Coleman was affective in short time again with a career-high 10 rebounds against the Tigers.
- Jasai Miles entered the starting rotation for the first time in his collegiate career.
- All 12 UNF players who had playing time scored, including a season debut from Rasmussen and a season home debut for Max Hrdlicka.
UP NEXT
UNF plays its third consecutive game at home with a date against Georgia Southern on Saturday, Dec. 9, with tip-off set at 2 p.m., at UNF Arena.
