Men’s Basketball Drops Back-and-Forth League Opener Against Austin Peay

Thursday, January 2

Jacksonville, Fla.

2 p.m.

University of North Florida

7-7,0-1ASUN

Austin Peay

6-8,1-0ASUN

Austin Peay

North Florida

Photo by: Brock Borgeson

Men’s Basketball Drops Back-and-Forth League Opener Against Austin Peay

1/2/2025 4:33:00 PM | Men's Basketball

Box Score Photo Gallery

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. - Five Ospreys posted double-digit scoring efforts and UNF (7-7, 0-1 ASUN) held the upper hand for much of the contest, but an Austin Peay push down the stretch allowed the Governors to win in a 97-89 loss to the Governors (6-8, 1-0 ASUN).

FINAL SCORE
APSU | 97
UNF | 89

INSIDE THE BOX SCORE
1st Half

Nate Lliteras scored on a backdoor cut to start the scoring, while adding another bucket to start off the game with four points alongside Jasai Miles … UNF held a 13-6 lead after the first media timeout … APSU went on a 7-3 run to force UNF into a timeout with 13 … the Governors kept on the pressure to get even, 18-18, with a fastbreak dunk … Josh Harris scored on a second-chance bucket and Miles hit a three-pointer to bring UNF's lead back to 24-18 … UNF turned on the jets, going on a 14-8 run to force APSU into a timeout with 3:58 to go … Liam Murphy hit a corner three-pointer and Harris got loose in transition off a steal to extend the lead … UNF held a ten point lead at the break, leading 44-34.

2nd Half

Despite a Jaylen Smith three to start the half, Austin Peay started the half on a 16-8 run to get within a possession … Ametri Moss got to the line a pair of times to slow down APSU in the second half … Austin Peay tied it, 62-62, the first tie since things were 18-18 … Murphy broke the tie with a dunk and Miles followed with a layup … Austin Peay would gather its first lead since being up 4-2 as it held an 82-75 advantage, its largest of the game … Austin Peay hit a three to take a 12-point lead, but Nate Lliteras replied with one from the logo to get back within single digits … Austin Peay would stay ahead.

BY THE NUMBERS
Austin Peay

Sai Witt | 23 points, 7 rebounds
Anton Brookshire | 25 points

North Florida

Josh Harris | 13 points, 9 rebounds
Jaylen Smith | 15 points, 2 assists
Jasai Miles | 17 points, 6 rebounds
Ametri Moss | 15 points

POST GAME COMMENTS

Post Game Presser vs. Austin Peay pic.twitter.com/dJI9KtTToJ
— UNF Men's Basketball (@OspreyMBB) January 2, 2025

NOTABLES

It was the ninth all-time meeting between the two teams
It was the first meeting between UNF and APSU at UNF since Jan. 31, 2022
UNF opened the conference season for the second time in three seasons against Austin Peay
Harris made his first appearance since Dec. 14 against UNCG
Eight Ospreys got into the scoring column

UP NEXT
UNF takes on Lipscomb Saturday at 2 p.m. to complete the home stand.