University of North Florida
7-23,5-12ASUN
FGCU
14-16,8-9ASUN
Oriol Notches 26 To Lead Men's Basketball Over FGCU, 76-70
2/26/2026 9:30:00 PM | Men's Basketball
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – North Florida Men's Basketball overcame its largest deficit in a win this season to defeat Florida Gulf Coast, 76-70, at UNF Arena on Thursday.
Senior guard Kamrin Oriol posted a team-high 26 points on 8-18 from the field and 9-11 from the free-throw line, in addition to three assists and two rebounds in 37 minutes. It marked his 15th game with 20 or more points this season.
Graduate student guard/forward Dalton Gayman added 15 points on 5-6 from the field, 1-1 from three and 4-5 from the free-throw line, in addition to six rebounds in 26 minutes. Sophomore guard Kent Jackson and freshman guard/forward BJ Plummer rounded out North Florida's four double-digit scorers with 11 points and 10, respectively.
North Florida limited Florida Gulf Coast to 0-7 from the field to start the game. North Florida led 4-3 in a defensive start at the initial first-half media timeout.
A three from graduate student guard Devin Hines made it a 10-0 run over a 1:47-minutes of action for North Florida to secure a 16-13 lead.
North Florida secured a 25-22 lead at the 6:33-minute mark of the first half on a finish inside from freshman guard/forward Trey Cady. Florida Gulf Coast led 36-27 at the half.
North Florida opened the second half with an 8-2 start to close the deficit to 38-35 at the under-16-minute media timeout. Gayman tied the game at 42 on a drive and finish at the 12:32-minute mark of the second half. Gayman tied the game once more at 45 on an and-one finish at the 11:45-minute mark of the second half.
North Florida took a 59-55 lead and forced a Florida Gulf Coast timeout at the 6:49-minute mark of the second half on back-to-back scores from Oriol.
The Ospreys took a one-score lead at 63-61 into the final second-half media timeout. Oriol buried a three to secure a 66-61 lead for North Florida with 3:11 minutes left in the second half. Florida Gulf Coast cut it back to a one-posession game with just over 2:00 minutes left in regulation, but Plummer knocked down a dagger three at the 1:28-minute mark in the second half to help bring the score to its final margin.
North Florida closes its regular season when it hosts crosstown rival Jacksonville for the River City Rumble on Saturday, Feb. 28 at 6 p.m. ET.Â
