By: Jordan Harirchi, Assistant Sports Editor

Parker Smith tied the record for the Atlantic Sun inter-conference game with 46, leading the Ospreys to a victory in their final home game of the season.

The UNF Ospreys (15-15, 9-8 Atlantic Sun) beat the Mercer Bears (20-9, 12-4 A-Sun) 75-66 Feb. 20. The Ospreys’ win gives them their highest win total in school history.

It was senior night at the UNF Arena, and guards Matt Sauey and Jimmy Williams were recognized for their last regular season game at UNF.

At one point in the first half, the Ospreys were down by seven. After going 2-8 in the first eight minutes of play, the Ospreys crashed through their coma walls, going 8-15 in the remainder of the half.

A switch to full-court defense would prove fruitful. The Ospreys out-rebounded the Bears 20 to 11 in the first half, eight of those offensive. Junior forward Andy Diaz would leave the game with a back spasm after four minutes of play. Sauey left the game after receiving a blow to the head but would return in the second half.

The Ospreys play would bring the team into the half up 36-27.

Junior guard Parker Smith would take over in the second half. He went 8-11 from behind the arc and tied the team’s game-high three-point total by himself with 11 in the game.

“The basket seemed pretty wide tonight,” Smith said. “I was just getting open looks and taking advantage of them.”

The Ospreys continued their dominant play in the second. Offensive rebounds would prove to be crucial—the Ospreys scored 17 second chance points. The Ospreys wouldn’t relinquish the lead or allow the Bears to tie in the second half.

Smith tied the conference single-game three-pointers with 11, set the UNF single-game record for three-pointers and is the first A-Sun player to top 40 points since 2009.

The Ospreys play the Jacksonville Dolphins (8-20, 6-11 A-Sun) Feb. 25 at JU.

Emial Jordan Harirchi at Asst.sports@unfspinnaker.com.

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