JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – North Florida men's basketball fell in a back-and-forth game at Florida Gulf Coast, 86-82, inside Alico Arena on Monday.
Sophomore guard
Jaylen Smith turned in 16 points and seven assists in 31 minutes. Senior guard
Nate Lliteras added 16 points and eight rebounds in 34 minutes. Graduate student forward
Liam Murphy posted 16 points, three assists and three steals in 28 minutes.
UNF outscored Florida Gulf Coast 37-6 in bench points, its 12
th game with 30 or more bench points this season.
North Florida cut the margin to one possession twice over the final minute of regulation, but Florida Gulf Coast was able to maintain its lead by converting on its late opportunities at the free-throw line.
FGCU 86, UNF 82
RECORDS
North Florida | 15-15, 8-9 ASUN
Florida Gulf Coast | 17-13, 12-5 ASUN
BEYOND THE BOX SCORE
FIRST HALF: Senior guard
Ametri Moss scored six-straight points to extend North Florida's lead to 14-10 at the 12:39-minute mark. Sophomore guard
Jasai Miles knocked down a three to make it a one-score game at the under-eight media timeout. After Florida Gulf Coast retook the lead at 26-21 with 6:56 minutes left before half, North Florida converted on three of its next four possessions to cut its deficit back to one score at 30-28. Senior guard
Nate Lliteras tied the game at 30 with a pair of free throws. Junior guard
Kamrin Oriol buried back-to-back threes to take a 38-36 lead with a minute left before half. Florida Gulf Coast hit a step back jump shot to end the first half and secure a 43-41 lead into the break. Lliteras led all Ospreys with 12 points in the first half for his 19
th game with 10 or more points this season. North Florida connected on eight threes in the first half.
SECOND HALF: North Florida got stops on its initial two defensive possessions out of the halftime break. Miles knocked down a three on a handoff from freshman forward
Josh Harris for the Ospreys' first basket of the second half. Sophomore guard
Jaylen Smith tied the score at 47 with a three on the next possession. Florida Gulf Coast pushed its lead to double digits before graduate student forward
Liam Murphy drew a foul beyond the arc and converted on all three at the line to make it 63-56. Oriol buried his third three of the night to make it 71-65. Smith knocked down a stepback three to cut the deficit back to one score at 71-70. Oriol found Murphy in transition to make It a one-score game at 82-80 with 52 seconds left in regulation. Murphy converted on two from the line to make it 84-82, but Florida Gulf Coast converted on its free throws down the stretch for the eventual final.
LEADERS BY THE NUMBERS
UNF
Nate Lliteras | 16 points, 8 rebounds
Jaylen Smth | 16 points, 7 assists
Liam Murphy | 16 points, 3 assists, 3 steals
FGCU
Keeshawn Kellman | 29 points, 10 rebounds
Dallion Johnson | 18 points, 5 rebounds, 5 assists
Zavian McLean | 12 points, 7 rebounds
COACH'S THOUGHTS
NOTES
- Nate Lliteras finished with 16 points, his 19th game with 10 or more points this season.
- North Florida connected on eight threes in the first half and 14 for the gam, its 24th game with 10 or more threes this season.
- Ametri Moss added 12 points, his second-straight and fifth total game with 10 or more points off the bench this season.
- Jaylen Smith turned in 16 points and seven assists, his 18th game with 10 or more points this season.
- North Florida outscored Florida Gulf Coast 37-6 in bench points.
- The game featured five ties and four lead changes.
UP NEXT
North Florida celebrates Senior Day when it hosts Eastern Kentucky on Wednesday, Feb. 26 at 7 p.m. inside UNF Arena.
