JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – Senior forward
Kendall Munson recorded his first career double-double in Jacksonville's 77-73 loss to North Florida.
Munson tallied a game-high 22 points to go along with a game-high 11 boards in the loss. Munson was just one point shy of tying his career high scoring mark of 23.
The Seattle native went 8-13 from the field and used his physical presence to bully Osprey defenders all night. In his last six games, Munson has hit double digit scoring five times.
Jacksonville (16-12, 10-6) dominated the glass against the Ospreys to the tune of a 45-33 margin.
Donovan Rivers, earning another start in the place of an injured
Stephon Payne III, grabbed his conference-high seven rebounds. The big man swatted away a pair of balls and put up a steal.
Head coach
Jordan Mincy said postgame he hopes for Payne to return to the starting lineup come ASUN Tournament play.
Joining Munson in the scoring category was a 22-point night from
Robert McCray V. McCray made a game-high 10 shots and added four rebounds.
Zach Bell also reached the double-digit mark with 12 points. Bell was third on the team in boards with six.
At halftime, Jacksonville had a one-point lead over the home squad, 35-34. In the second half however, UNF outpaced the Dolphins by five points to take the second edition of the River City Rumble.
Jacksonville had its largest lead of the night, 34-27, with a minute to play in the first half. In the final 20 minutes, the 'Phins held UNF off for only about four minutes until the home squad took the lead and never gave it back.
With 4:42 to play, Munson made a free throw that got JU down just a point, 64-63. His play all night kept Jacksonville in the game as it had during Jacksonville's four-game road trip.
Jacksonville got big minutes off the bench from big man
Tito Deng, who stroked in a triple and made a play at the rim. Deng finished with five points, two boards and a block which netted him a +/- of +7.
The battle was largely lost beyond the arc as Jacksonville made just three deep balls to UNF's 15. UNF made just 10 shots from inside the arc.
Jakari Spence made a triple for Jacksonville, his first three point attempted since a make at Queens.
Zimi Nwokeji also added a triple, his lone make from the field.
With the loss, JU has dropped three in a row for the first time all season.
The Dolphins will close out the season with a two-game homestand before the postseason, starting with hosting EKU.
The Dolphins and the Colonels will tip off Monday, Feb. 24 at 7 p.m. on ESPN+. Previously, Jacksonville defeated EKU in Richmond 82-75, the third win of Jacksonville's former seven game win streak.
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