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The first half was a half of runs for both sides … Jose Placer started UNF's offense early in the game, scoring five points in the first three minutes … Carter Hendricksen gave UNF a 10-9 on a free throw, UNF's first lead of the game at 16:13 in the first half … APSU went on a 13-0 run, its longest of the game, establishing a 22-10 lead at the 12:44 mark … but, UNF replied thanks to a pair of three-pointers from Jarius Hicklen and Oscar Berry, as well as strong defense down low that aided transition scoring chances … UNF completed a 15-3 run with Hicklen's three-pointer at the 6:39 mark, putting UNF up, 25-24 … APSU got the lead one possession later, and despite multiple instances in which UNF got within one, APSU finished the frame up ten points thanks to a 14-5 run … Hicklen had 11 points in the first half and Chaz Lanier had five boards.
APSU retained its double-digit lead through the first media timeout, although UNF slowly got its footing after that, picking up the pace with an 8-2 run to get within 52-47 at the 13:23 mark … Hicklen and Hendricksen hit three-pointers to sandwich a Jonathan Aybar layup during that stint … Austin Peay worked the clock and got some shots to fall from mid-range to widen the lead back to nine at 66-57 … with time dwindling, Lanier and Hendricksen hit important treys, with the latter getting UNF within two at 68-66 with 2:54 to go … the hot-shooting ensued for Hendricksen again as he sunk another three-pointer at 1:44 to go, getting UNF within one at 70-69 … Austin Peay answered with a tough jumper and Placer posted two points on a pair of free throws, but APSU escaped after getting a final possession stop.
North Florida is now 7-9 in league play and in eighth in the conference standings with two games to go in the regular season. The top ten teams make the league tournament.