Men’s Basketball Stuns South Carolina, Earns First SEC Win

Monday, November 4

Columbia, S.C.

7 p.m.

University of North Florida

1-0,0-0ASUN

South Carolina

0-1,0-0SEC

North Florida

South Carolina

Kamrin Oriol celebrating a game-tying three-pointer

Oriol lined up the game-tying three-pointer with under two minutes to go in the win.

Photo by: Brock Borgeson

Men’s Basketball Stuns South Carolina, Earns First SEC Win

11/4/2024 10:47:00 PM | Men's Basketball, General

Box Score Photo Gallery

Ospreys Notch Third Power Five Win in Program HIstory

COLUMBIA, S.C. - North Florida men's basketball wasted no time making headlines in 2024-25 as the Ospreys (1-0), went into South Carolina and stunned the Gamecocks (0-1), 74-71, to earn the program's first-ever win against an SEC program. It was also UNF's third win against a Power Four team all-time and first since defeating Illinois, 93-81, in Champaign, Ill., Nov. 13, 2015. UNF outscored South Carolina, 15-7, down the stretch, overcoming a five-point deficit after the final media timeout.

North Florida had four with double-digit points, paced by Jaylen Smith's 16 on 6-for-13 shooting. Liam Murphy impressed in his UNF debut, notching 14 points off the bench, while Jasai Miles was one rebound short of a double-double.

Down 64-61 with 1:49 to go, Kamrin Oriol drained a game-tying three from the top of the key. South Carolina replied with a go-ahead layup, but Miles punched back with a go-ahead trey seconds later. UNF never gave up the lead, hitting free throws while getting a stop to seal the deal.

UNF's only other meeting against South Carolina was in the season opener 2014-15, the same year North Florida went on to win the league title.

FINAL SCORE
South Carolina | 71
UNF | 74

INSIDE THE BOX SCORE
1st Half
Both teams played strong defense in the early minutes, with UNF and South Carolina knotted up at five at the first media timeout … Nate Lliteras provided the first three of the season to get the scoring going, while Jaylen Smith added a layup … SC pulled ahead, 12-7, but an 8-0 run off the hand of Liam Murphy gave the Ospreys a one-point lead at the second media timeout … Kamrin Oriol stepped in and drained a three to get UNF within two at the under eight media timeout … even at 24-24, South Carolina went on a 7-0 run to create the largest margin of the game … North Florida hung tough the rest of the half as SC held a 36-31 lead at the break.

2nd Half
Josh Harris started the half with two quick buckets, cutting the South Carolina lead back to one … the Gamecocks connected on a three-pointer and made two free throws to grow the lead back to six … UNF worked some stops on defense, while converting on the other end to cut the deficit to 58-57 with under six minutes to go … SC widened the lead back to five, but Jaylen Smith hit a stepback jumper to cut the deficit to one possession … down three, UNF had the ball on consecutive possessions with a chance to tie, but SC stood tall … that's when Oriol stepped up with a game-tying three and Miles replied after a SC make with a go-ahead three to put the Ospreys ahead for good … the Gamecocks had a chance to tie at the buzzer, but a half-court heave was off the mark.

COACH DRISCOLL'S COMMENTS

Big shots in big moments - hear from @UNFBBALL after the program's first-ever win against an SEC program! pic.twitter.com/0cMmD9S54N
— UNF Men's Basketball (@OspreyMBB) November 5, 2024

BY THE NUMBERS

South Carolina

Zachary Davis | 12 points, 6 rebounds
Jamarii Thomas | 12 points
Collin Murray-Boyles | 17 points

North Florida

Jaylen Smith | 16 points, 3 assists
Nate Lliteras | 13 points, 5 rebounds
Jasai Miles | 11 points, 9 rebounds
Liam Murphy | 14 points, 6 rebounds

NOTABLES

It was the second-ever meeting between the two teams
It's the first of five games against P4 teams this year
Kamrin Oriol, Liam Murphy, Dante Oliver, Mason Lee and Josh Harris all made their UNF debuts
Four Ospreys posted double-digit scoring nights
UNF had 30 bench points
UNF has earned three wins against Power Four programs
North Florida had the lead for 3:29
North Florida hit 10 three-pointers
10 Ospreys saw the court
North Florida won the rebounding battle, 43-37