CLARKSVILLE, Tenn. - For the second time in as many games on the final road trip of the regular season, the game came down to the final possession, although this time it went to the hosts as UNF was clipped, 73-71, at Austin Peay Saturday, Feb. 18.
The Ospreys (12-16, 7-9 ASUN) had a chance to take the lead, down 72-71 with the ball and 13 seconds on the lock. Austin Peay (9-20, 3-13 ASUN) would force a turnover and convert a free throw with under one second on the clock to conclude the game.
North Florida is now 7-9 in league play and in eighth in the conference standings with two games to go in the regular season. The top ten teams make the league tournament.
FINAL SCORE
UNF | 71
APSU | 73
INSIDE THE BOX SCORE
1st Half
- The first half was a half of runs for both sides … Jose Placer started UNF's offense early in the game, scoring five points in the first three minutes … Carter Hendricksen gave UNF a 10-9 on a free throw, UNF's first lead of the game at 16:13 in the first half … APSU went on a 13-0 run, its longest of the game, establishing a 22-10 lead at the 12:44 mark … but, UNF replied thanks to a pair of three-pointers from Jarius Hicklen and Oscar Berry, as well as strong defense down low that aided transition scoring chances … UNF completed a 15-3 run with Hicklen's three-pointer at the 6:39 mark, putting UNF up, 25-24 … APSU got the lead one possession later, and despite multiple instances in which UNF got within one, APSU finished the frame up ten points thanks to a 14-5 run … Hicklen had 11 points in the first half and Chaz Lanier had five boards.
2nd Half
- APSU retained its double-digit lead through the first media timeout, although UNF slowly got its footing after that, picking up the pace with an 8-2 run to get within 52-47 at the 13:23 mark … Hicklen and Hendricksen hit three-pointers to sandwich a Jonathan Aybar layup during that stint … Austin Peay worked the clock and got some shots to fall from mid-range to widen the lead back to nine at 66-57 … with time dwindling, Lanier and Hendricksen hit important treys, with the latter getting UNF within two at 68-66 with 2:54 to go … the hot-shooting ensued for Hendricksen again as he sunk another three-pointer at 1:44 to go, getting UNF within one at 70-69 … Austin Peay answered with a tough jumper and Placer posted two points on a pair of free throws, but APSU escaped after getting a final possession stop.
BY THE NUMBERS
NORTH FLORIDA
AUSTIN PEAY
- Shon Robinson | 16 points, 4 rebounds
- Elijah Hutchins-Everett | 15 points
- Guy Faunterloy | 13 points, 4 rebounds, 4 assists
NOTABLES
- This was the fifth game decided by one possession during league play
- UNF is 3-3 all-time against Austin Peay, with the home team winning three apiece
- UNF and APSU split the season series
- The game saw ten lead changes and two tie scores, but APSU held the lead for over 36 minutes
- Both meetings between UNF and Austin Peay saw regulation come down to a final possession. The first meeting went to overtime
- It was UNF's 15th double-digit three-point effort on the year
- Hendricksen posted his 24th double-digit scoring effort of the season. He has paced UNF in scoring in 11 games this year
POSTGAME COMMENTS
"It was a tough loss in an important ASUN game today and unfortunately it ended how it did. We went to make a play to contest the dunk in the final seconds, but ultimately it shouldn't have come down to the last play. We will move forward as a team in the final week of the regular season." -- Head Coach Matthew Driscoll
UP NEXT
UNF returns home for the final week of regular season play, beginning with Eastern Kentucky Wednesday at 7 p.m.
