In a close non-conference match on Monday night at the UNF Arena, the Ospreys’ five-game winning streak came to an end when the Tennessee Tech Golden Eagles (6-4) fought back from a 13-point deficit to win the game, 82-80.
The two points that sealed the game for the Golden Eagles could be accredited to a pair of free throws that TTU junior Torrance Rowe put on the board before the game even started. The free throws were granted by a technical foul on the Ospreys for dunking the ball during the last 20 minutes of pregame warmups. According to the NCAA Men’s Basketball rule book (Section 4, Class B, Article 1e) a technical foul shall be given for: “a team member dunking or attempting to dunk a dead ball before or during the game, or during any intermission.”
UNF starting center sophomore Romelo Banks was the player who cost the team the two early points and according to UNF’s Head Coach Matthew Driscoll, Banks had been warned by an official about the violation after the first infraction, but proceeded to push the envelope and once again dunk the ball.
Regardless of the pregame technical foul, the Ospreys’ lackluster defense and poor offensive output in the second half were the biggest deciding factors in this game. In terms of overall percentages, the Golden Eagles outshot the Ospreys in both field goals and free throws. In the second half alone, TTU went 14-18 from the line compared to UNF’s 4-11. The old adage of free throws winning games definitely holds water and did so in this matchup.
UNF sophomore Dallas Moore scored with a season best 26 points for the night. The starting guard for the Ospreys went 10-18 on field goals and managed to rack up four assists and three steals. He currently leads the Atlantic Sun Conference in scoring, averaging 17.2 points per game with a total of 172 points thus far. He also leads the A-Sun in three-point field goals shooting 49 percent (24-29) from beyond the arc.
UNF sophomore Chris Davenport earned a double-double with 14 points and a career best of 17 rebounds on the night. Davenport went 5-12 in field goals and 3-6 from the free throw line. He is currently averaging 6.7 rebounds per game.
TTU senior Dwan Caldwell also earned a double-double with 14 points and 10 rebounds, leading his team in both. Caldwell went 5-11 in field goals and 4-4 from behind the line.
The Ospreys won’t be back in front of the home crowd until Tuesday, Jan. 6 when they play Trinity Baptist at 7 p.m. In the meantime, the men’s team will be on the road over the holiday, with the first matchup having been against Atlantic Coast Conference powerhouse the Florida State Seminoles last night in Tallahassee. This was the third time the two schools have met on the hardwood. The Seminoles reigned supreme (93-77) causing the Ospreys to continue their losing streak to ACC teams.
Gallery photos courtesy Todd Drexler/SE Sports Media
[doptg id=”96″]For more information or if you see an error in this story or have any compliments/concerns, contact Jordan Ferrell sports@unfspinnaker.com.
