UNF’s head coach Matthew Driscoll whistled fervently into the dying minutes of the first round game, attempting to call plays for his players as best as he could, but his acute whistle wasn’t enough to stop the Eagles from taking control, and keeping it.
With 21 seconds left and UNF clinging to a two point lead freshman Ray Rodriguez, who had attempted only one free-throw all season, stepped to the line.
In the top of the tenth inning UNF answered UF’s ninth by scoring a run. UNF’s Corey Bass hit a
double to left center field that scored Alex Bacon and gave UNF a 7-6 lead. The Ospreys were able to
hold the Gators scoreless in the bottom of the tenth to come away with the win.
“He pretty much expressed to me how a sport could define somebody,” Wallace said. “He said if you work hard at something, anything is pretty much possible. We played basketball almost everyday. He was maybe 32 at the time and I was like 10-years old, so I was playing against these older guys.”
"I've been working coach all week," said Beech. "David Jeune got me open, Will Wilson, Andy Diaz all the seniors they were looking for me. I got open shots and I hit them. It was fun."
After struggling for most of the season, junior forward Charles McRoy posted career highs of 16 points and 10 rebounds for the Ospreys coming off the bench.
In their first road game this season, the Ospreys capitalized on BCU’s mistakes and played good defense to keep the Wildcats at bay and pick up the win following a 2-1 series win against West Virginia.
