The North Florida Ospreys are scoring at their usual high rate, leading the ASUN with 83.5 points per game.
But UNF (7-8, 0-2 ASUN), which beat South Carolina and Georgia Tech in November, has lost four games in a row (including their first two ASUN games) and five of its last six, and the reason is defense — where they are last in allowing 85.6 points per game.
“It’s defending … we don’t believe in it, we don’t care about it, we have no pride in it,” Ospreys coach Matthew Driscoll said bluntly after a 96-64 loss to Lipscomb at UNF Arena on Saturday. “I can’t say inexperience because we have enough guys with experience. To their credit [Lipscomb] they whooped us in every single phase you could whoop us.”
The Ospreys have given up 90 or more points in eight of their last nine games. They’re also last in field-goal percentage defense (47.9), ninth in 3-point percentage defense (35.9) and ninth in rebounding margin (minus 3.9).
Most of the damage is being done inside. In the last five games in which UNF has given up 90 or more, opponents are shooting 55.2 percent on 2-point shots and are outscoring the Ospreys by an average of 16 points in the paint — although that figure is skewed a bit with the sixth-ranked Florida Gators’ 48-10 advantage in their Dec. 21 game.
Trying to keep up:UNF, JU basketball programs challenged by NIL collectives
“I don’t think our guys are doing the little things we need to do in order to be successful,” Driscoll said. “We’ve gotten away from it for whatever reason.”
Sophomore guard Jasai Miles, who had 10 points against Lipscomb, was even more candid.
“At times we get too caught up playing individually it’s evident on the court,” he said. “We have 16 [conference games] left. We’re going to get it right.”
UNF also had the dubious distinction of having the first opposing player, in Driscoll’s memory, to have a triple-double. Lipscomb senior guard Will Pruitt had 11 points, 13 rebounds and 10 assists.
In the ASUN opener on Jan. 2 against Austin Peay, UNF lost 97-89 as the Governors shot 60 percent in the second half to rally from a 10-point deficit at the break. Miles led five players in double figures with 17 points and sophomore guard Jaylen Smith and senior guard Ametri Moss had 15 each.
Three Austin Peay players, led by Anton Brookshire’s 25, had 23 or more points.
Men: Dolphins cool off Austin Peay
Jacksonville (7-7, 10-1 ASUN): Two days after Austin Peay nearly touched 100 points against UNF, JU limited the Governors to 27.5 percent shooting overall and 14.3 percent from beyond the arc in a 68-44 rout on Saturday at Swisher Gym. The Dolphins led 27-19 at halftime and then held APU to 1 of 14 3-point attempts. Junior guard Robert McCray V led JU with 15 points and added six rebounds and four assists. … In the Dolphins’ 70-65 loss to Lipscomb on Jan. 2 to open the conference season, McCray had 22 points and graduate senior guard Jakari Spence 14.
Flagler (7-4, 1-1 Peach Belt): Flagler couldn’t hold onto a 14-point first-half lead and lost at North Georgia 84-77 in Dahlonega, Ga. Turnovers were the difference as the Saints lost that battle 15-6. Senior guard Jax Bouknight led Flagler with 21 points and junior forward Jaylen Jordan of Hilliard had his seventh double-double of the season with 10 points and 12 rebounds.
Edward Waters (8-5, 4-2 SIAC): The Tigers host Tuskegee on Monday at 7:30 p.m., to resume their conference schedule.
Trinity Baptist (1-9, 0-0 NCCAA Division II South): The Eagles next play at Welch on Jan. 11 and Campbellsville on Jan. 12 in Gallatin, Tenn., in the NCCAA Mideast/South Crossover tournament. TBC will open its division schedule on Jan. 14 at home against Pensacola Christian.
This week’s games
Jan. 6
Tuskegee at Edward Waters, 7:30 p.m.
Jan. 8
USC-Aiken at Flagler, 5:30 p.m.
Jan. 9
Jacksonville at Bellarmine, 6:30 p.m.
North Florida at Eastern Kentucky, 7 p.m.
Jan. 10
Trinity Baptist at Welch College (Tenn.), 8:30 p.m.
Jan. 11
Trinity Baptist vs. Campbellsville (Tenn.), 12 p.m.
Georgia College at Flagler, 3:30 p.m.
Jacksonville at Eastern Kentucky, 4 p.m.
Edward Waters at Fort Valley State (Ga.), 5:30 p.m.
North Florida at Bellarmine, 6:30 p.m.
Women: JU loses again without Edyn Bell
Jacksonville (6-8, 0-2 ASUN): The Dolphins lost their fifth game in a row and their fourth in succession without senior guard and ASUN scoring leader Edyn Battle when they lost at North Alabama 73-57 on Saturday. Battle, averaging 19.7 points per game, hasn’t played since Dec. 13. A JU sports communications official told the Times-Union it’s been the decision of coach Special Jennings and that Battle remains on the roster. Sophomore guard Sana’a Garrett led the Dolphins against UNA with 13 points. … Senior forward Makayla Edwards had 18 points, senior guard Priscilla Williams had 16 and sophomore forward Saniyah Craig had 15 rebounds in a 74-63 loss on Jan. 2 at Central Arkansas.
North Florida (4-11, 0-2 ASUN): The Ospreys lost their first two conference games and turnovers were the main culprit. In a 60-52 loss at Austin Peay on Saturday, UNF had 27 turnovers and in a 76-53 loss at Lipscomb, it had 25. Freshman guard Jamisyn Stinson led the Ospreys with 14 points off the bench against the Governors and senior guard Jazmine Spencer had 17 against Lipscomb. Freshman forward Jasmynne Gibson added 16 points and 14 rebounds.
Flagler (4-7, 0-2 Peach Belt): The Saints had 20 turnovers and shot 21.5 percent from the floor in a 76-52 loss to North Georgia in Dahlonega, Ga., on Saturday. Senior guard Sharale McCormick led the Saints with 18 points.
Edward Waters (7-3, 4-2 SIAC): The Tigers play Tuskegee at home on Monday at 5:30 p.m. to resume their SIAC schedule.
Trinity Baptist (1-9, 0-0 NCCAA Division II South): The Eagles tip off next on Tuesday at Florida State College Jacksonville and open their division schedule at home on Jan. 14 against Pensacola Christian.
This week’s games
Jan. 6
Tuskegee at Edward Waters, 5:30 p.m.
Jan. 7
Erskine at Edward Waters, 5 p.m.
Trinity Baptist at Florida State College Jacksonville, 7 p.m.
Jan. 8
USC-Aiken at Flagler, 3:30 p.m.
Jan. 9
Stetson at Jacksonville, 6:30 p.m.
Florida Gulf Coast at North Florida, 7 p.m.
Jan. 11
Edward Waters at Fort Valley State (Ga.), 1 p.m.
Georgia College at Flagler, 1:30 p.m.
Stetson at North Florida, 2 p.m.
Florida Gulf Coast at Jacksonville, 2 p.m.
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