University of North Florida
1-3,0-0ASUN
The Citadel
3-1,0-0SoCon
| Team | 1 | 2 | F |
|---|---|---|---|
| The Citadel | 29 | 48 | 77 |
| North Florida | 35 | 39 | 74 |
11/14/2026 5:00:00 PM | Men's Basketball
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – University of North Florida Men's Basketball dropped a tightly contested battle to The Citadel, 77-74, at UNF Arena on Saturday.
Senior guard/forward Mason Lee posted a team-high 14 points on 4-7 from the field and 2-5 from three in 29 minutes. Twelve of Lee's 14 points came in the second half. It marked his second game this season with 10 or more points. Junior guard/forward JR Bartelus also led the Ospreys in scoring with a season-high 14 points on 5-11 from the field, in addition to five rebounds and four steals.
Junior guard Kent Jackson turned in 12 points, in addition to four assists in 34 minutes of action. Junior guard Elijah Elliott rounded out the four Ospreys in double-figures with a season-high 12 points on 4-5 from the field and six rebounds in 19Â minutes.
North Florida outscored The Citadel 15-14 in points off turnovers, 34-30 in points in the paint and 31-21 in bench points. North held the lead for 30:57 in the game.
Sophomore guard Mason Watkins opened the scoring with a floater inside the paint at the 18:55-minute mark of the first half. North Florida entered the initial media timeout with a 10-2 lead at the 15:49-minute mark of the first half.
Elliott helped North Florida open its largest lead of the first half at 35-20 with a layup at the 3:38-minute mark.
North Florida never trailed in the first half and commanded a 35-29 lead at the break.
Bartelus led all Ospreys with 11 points on 4-7 from the field and 1-2 from three, in addition to four rebounds and two steals in the first half. Bartelus scored nine of his 11 first-half points over a 2:49-minute stretch in the initial 20 minutes of action.
Lee knocked down a three at the 14:53-minute mark to maintain a 47-43 lead in the second half. Elliott drained a three with just under 10:00 in the second half, extending North Florida's advantage to 59-52.
The Citadel used a 9-2 run amid the second half to tie the game, 61-61, before the score reached its eventual final margin.
North Florida remains at UNF Arena to host University of Fort Lauderdale on Tuesday, Nov. 17 at 7 p.m. on ESPN+.
