Washington holds off upset-minded North Florida Ospreys 75-67

The University of North Florida pulled to within a basket of host Washington with 1:16 remaining on Friday but the Huskies scored the last six points and won 75-67 at the Alaska Airlines Arena in Seattle.

The Ospreys (0-2), led 34-28 at halftime and held UW (2-0) to .256 shooting in the first half.

"Great defensive effort in the first half," UNF coach Matthew Driscoll said. "We had an opportunity to extend that but to their credit [Washington] scored on the first seven possessions of the second half. To our guys' credit, they continued to fight."

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Washington went on a 14-6 run to start the second half, with all seven baskets coming inside. Eventually there were nine ties and nine lead changes and UNF led for the last time, 61-60 with 4:35 left, on Jonathan Aybar's dunk.

Jamal Bey erased that lead with a 3-pointer and a layup on Washington's next two possessions and the Huskies led 69-61 with 2:09 remaining. UNF then cut it to 69-67 on 3-pointers by Jose Placer and Jarius Hicklen but Keyon Menifield responded with a jumper at 0:44 and following a missed 3-point attempt by Carter Hendricksen, was fouled and made both free throws.

Cole Bajema added two more from the line with 10 seconds left after Placer missed a 3-pointer.

Hicklen led UNF with 19 points, Hendricksen had 11 points and nine rebounds, Aybar had 12 points and Parker 11 points and seven rebounds.

The Huskies were led by Menefield with 21 points.

It was the first meeting between the two teams and UNF completed a two-game road trip to Washington State, its first trip to that state. The Ospreys, who lost to Gonzaga 104-63 to open the season on Nov. 7, is 0-3 against the Pac-12.

UNF will play its home opener on Nov. 19 at 5 p.m. against South Carolina State.

Dolphins cruise in home opener

Jacksonville pulled away from Johnson University with a 29-0 run in the second half and won its 16th consecutive home game, 85-34, at Swisher Gym.

JU (1-1) made 12 of 16 shots and forced the Suns (0-2) to miss 13 in a row and turn the ball over four times during the decisive run. Jordan Davis scored seven points and Kevion Nolan had two 3-pointers during the stretch.

Mike Marsh led JU with 19 points and 10 rebounds. Gyasi Powell, a Bishop Snyder graduate, had 13 points, six rebounds and four assists.

Nolan had nine points and five assists.

JU returns home on Nov. 20 vs. Vorhees (S.C.) at 2 p.m.

Contact Garry Smits at gsmits@gannett.com and follow him on Twitter @GSmitter

This article originally appeared on Florida Times-Union: Jarius Hicklen, Carter Hendricksen lead North Florida upset bid at Washington