ST. LOUIS, Mo. – The North Florida basketball team struggled offensively in a tough 70-57 loss to Saint Louis on Tuesday night in Chaifetz Arena.
The Ospreys (3-2) dropped their second consecutive game after shooting a season low 36 percent from the floor including making just 5 of 20 three-point attempts (25 percent). The Billikens (4-0) also earned a 46-28 advantage in rebounding that resulted in 15 second chance points, while also tallying 21 points off of 14 UNF miscues.
Junior Dallas Moore led the way for UNF nearly posting a triple-double after finishing with 16 points, seven rebounds and six assists. Senior Beau Beech added 11 points as the only other Osprey in double figures.
Ash Yacoubou paced the Billikens with 20 points and 10 rebounds. Saint Louis connected on eight three-pointers in the game after netting just 10 in their previous three games combined.
"I thought we did a good job of getting shots we just had some guys uncharacteristically miss some they normally make,' said head coach Matthew Driscoll. "One thing we have to get better at is rebounding the ball. I felt like we gave up too many second chance opportunities and that was a big difference in the game. We will get back to work and make the adjustments we need to make to continue improving as a team."
Early in the game the two squads both took turns with the lead with UNF eventually grabbing a 19-14 lead. The Billikens took advantage of a four minute scoring drought by the Ospreys and built a seven-point margin following a 17-5 spurt.
Moore sparked a late first half rally for the Ospreys scoring six consecutive points as part of a closing 8-2 surge that trimmed the Saint Louis lead to 33-32 at the break.
The Ospreys extended their lead early in the second half to 40-37 but 10 straight SLU points gave them the lead for good. UNF battled back and pulled to within one, 49-48, with just over nine minutes to play.
From there, Saint Louis closed out the game on a 21-9 run including a stretch of 12 straight points to earn the victory.
North Florida concludes its current four-game road trip with a pair of games in Hartford, Conn. The Ospreys face Hartford on Friday night before meeting St. Francis Brooklyn on Saturday.