Austin Peay defeats North Florida 102-83
North Florida Falls Short at F&M Bank Arena
The North Florida Ospreys came into the F&M Bank Arena on Saturday looking to pull off an upset against conference rival Austin Peay, but ultimately fell short in a 102-83 decision.
The home team's strong performance was led by Collin Parker, who poured in 26 points, grabbed eight rebounds, and dished out six assists. Parker's well-rounded game was instrumental in the Owls' victory, as they took control of the contest from the outset.
At halftime, Austin Peay held a slim 48-42 lead, but the Ospreys were unable to close the gap in the second half. Despite a strong effort from Kent Jackson, who scored 20 points and grabbed eight rebounds for North Florida, the visiting team struggled to find its rhythm.
Austin Peay's offense was firing on all cylinders, with the Owls converting 37 out of 76 field goal attempts (49.0%). The home team's ability to dominate the paint was particularly impressive, as they scored 52 points in that area and committed just four turnovers.
Meanwhile, North Florida struggled from beyond the arc, making just 11 of 30 three-point attempts (37.0%). The Ospreys also committed 15 turnovers, which Austin Peay converted into 24 points off turnovers.
The final margin was 19 points, with the Owls' largest lead coming at 21 points in the second half. Despite the loss, North Florida's performance was a notable effort against a strong conference opponent.
Austin Peay's win marked their first conference victory of the season, and they will look to build on this momentum as they head into their next contest. The Ospreys, meanwhile, will regroup and look to bounce back from this tough loss.
Game Stats
Austin Peay (HOME)
* Field Goals: 37/76 (49.0%)
* 2-Point FG: 27/45 (60.0%)
* 3-Point FG: 10/31 (32.0%)
* Free Throws: 18/23 (78.0%)
* Rebounds: 44 (Off: 16, Def: 28)
* Assists: 20
* Turnovers: 6
* Steals: 12
* Blocks: 4
* Total Fouls: 21
* Total Points: 102
North Florida (AWAY)
* Field Goals: 25/58 (43.0%)
* 2-Point FG: 14/28 (50.0%)
* 3-Point FG: 11/30 (37.0%)
* Free Throws: 22/27 (81.0%)
* Rebounds: 31 (Off: 7, Def: 24)
* Assists: 13
* Turnovers: 15
* Steals: 3
* Blocks: 3
* Total Fouls: 18
* Total Points: 83
The final score of 102-83 was a clear indication that Austin Peay had the upper hand in this contest. Despite North Florida's strong effort, the Owls' balanced offense and stifling defense proved to be too much for the Ospreys to overcome.