JACKSONVILLE, Fla.- The Jacksonville men's basketball team defeated its rival, North Florida, 62-50 on Friday night at home.
 
Swisher Gymnasium was the hottest venue in town on Friday night as the two Atlantic Sun schools in Jacksonville, JU, and North Florida, squared off with the ASUN regular season's conclusion just a week away. UNF clinched its spot in the conference tournament and is fighting for seeding, and JU continues to fight for a spot in a conference that is as competitive as any top to bottom.

Bryce Workman, in what is his final regular-season game against the Ospreys, finished with 13 points and 10 rebounds for his third double-double of the season and second career against UNF. The Dolphins held UNF to its lowest shooting percentage in ASUN play this season and forced a total of 20 turnovers.
 
While Jacksonville's offense lit up in the second half, it was the defense that set the tone and carried the momentum throughout against a North Florida side that has sunk nearly 80 more three-pointers than any other team in the conference. The Ospreys opened the game with an early 11-2 run thanks to three triples in three minutes, leading to a 16-7 advantage in the first half with 11 minutes to play. Jacksonville 'D'd up' from there, and some offense followed. The Dolphins finished the half on a 16-9 run, but what was more notable was UNF shooting just 2-9 from the floor, and 2-8 from three in that stretch. The Ospreys did not hit a field goal for the last seven minutes of the half, and they turned the ball over 13 times in that half alone.
 
The Dolphins flew ahead in the first 13 minutes of the second half, soaring for a 29-11 run. Robert McCray V led the way with nine in that stretch, and Stephon Payne III followed with six points. Jacksonville was a perfect 3-3 from deep and shooting an impressive 9-15 from the floor at the time. North Florida, on the other hand, had missed all six tries from three and had hit three of its 11 attempts.
 
Jacksonville saw its lead go all the way up to a 16-point margin at 54-38 with just under eight minutes to play. North Florida began to find its groove again, especially from deep, hitting three of its next four tries and cutting the JU lead back down to nine. The Dolphins, eager to win the second edition of the River City Rumble this season, stopped any hope of an Ospreys comeback there. Down the stretch, Marcus Niblack hit a jumper and a pair of free throws to restore JU's double-digit gap with 1:46 to play. Then, after an Ospreys triple, UNF switched to a full-court press. Quick decisions and passes saw Payne with an open look down low, and he threw it down emphatically to the delight of the JU crowd. North Florida, in need of a miracle, moved the ball all around the key in hopes of an open three. Jacksonville's defense, which had been lockdown most of the night, didn't even give the Ospreys a chance, and two big rebounds from McCray put the stamp on this one.
 
Niblack returned for the first time since late January, and his presence was felt on the court every time he touched the ball. The shifty guard finished with 12 points, his 11th time reaching double figures, and provided a much different speed to the Dolphins' offense that found its groove as the game wore on. It seemed everyone who played significant minutes for Jacksonville contributed in a big way to help JU to victory. DeeJuan Pruitt matched his season-high in rebounds with eight. Payne scored 10 points and had a game high of three steals. Robert McCray V led the team in scoring with 16 points and was two rebounds shy of a double-double.

With the victory tonight, JU is in complete control of its own destiny as the ASUN playoffs approach, and the team could finish as high as sixth place, if things bounced its way perfectly.

UP NEXT

The Dolphins continue their final home stretch of the season on Wednesday, February 28 against in-state opponent, Stetson. The game is slated for a 7 pm tipoff and can be streamed on ESPN+ or heard on the radio on 1010XL.

WHAT THEY SAID
 


ADDITIONAL NOTES

• Tonight's victory marked the sixth win of the season for the Dolphins when they trail at halftime.
• JU is 33-2 when holding opponents under 60 points in the Mincy era.
• The Dolphins are 33-7 at home under coach Mincy.