The week ahead in First Coast college basketball: UNF men open at home, UNF women head for Ireland

Jacksonville and North Florida got into their early-season “money games” as the Dolphins played at Duke and the Ospreys went to Washington State for the first time in school history to face Gonzaga and Washington.

They returned home a combined 0-3 but UNF nearly pulled off the upset against the Pac-12 Huskies.

The JU women also had a chance at an upset, going to historic Allen Field House to take on Kansas. They battled hard in a loss but like the UNF men against Washington, it might be a good omen for the rest of the season.

This week’s schedule is relatively light, with schools going into final exams. However, the UNF women will take the longest road trip any team in the area will have all season.

Men: Ospreys nearly upset Huskies

Player of the week: Jacksonville junior forward Mike Marsh scored 34 points and had 13 rebounds in two games, a 71-44 loss to Duke and 85-34 victory over Johnson University. He shot 16 of 22 from the floor, including seven of eight in a 15-point game against Duke.

Game of the week: North Florida, in the second game of its first road trip ever to the state of Washington, cut the University of Washington’s lead to two points with 1:16 left but the Huskies scored the final six points to win 75-67. There were nine lead changes and nine ties. Jarius Hicklen scored 19 points to lead four players in double figures.

Stat line of the week: JU guard Gyasi Powell had 13 points on five of eight shooting and added six rebounds and four assists in the Dolphins' victory over Johnson.

Noting UNF (0-2): Senior Carter Hendricksen became the eighth Osprey player to reach 200 3-pointers for his career when he made his second 3-pointer of the night in a 104-63 loss to Gonzaga. Hendricksen had 16 points and eight rebounds.

Noting JU (1-1): The Dolphins have won 16 home games in a row but have a long way to go to threaten the program record. JU won 35 consecutive home games in the 1969 and 1970 seasons. When the Dolphins beat Johnson, they tied Murray State and Winthrop for the nation’s 11th-longest streak. Both of those teams then won their 17th home games in a row on Saturday.

Noting Edward Waters (0-1): The Tigers were thrashed 100-61 at North Carolina A&T but may have found a big man in 6-foot-7 Jackson State transfer Larry Kuimi. He had 16 points, nine rebounds and two blocks.

Noting Trinity Baptist (1-4): The Eagles won their first game by beating Welch (Tenn.) 65-55. Jacquez Anderson led 12 players who scored with 12 points, and added six rebounds. But on Saturday, Trinity shot only 20 percent in a 53-32 loss at Georgia Southern.

Noting Flagler (2-2): The Saints’ 110-90 victory over Anderson College on Saturday was the most points since beating Puerto Rico-Mayaguez 111-88 on Nov. 28, 2011. Jaylen Lemons had 28 points and five assists and Malik Bryant added 25 points and seven rebounds.

This week’s schedule

Nov. 14

Thomas University (Ga.) at Trinity Baptist, 8 p.m.

Nov. 15

Edward Waters at Lane (Tenn.), 7 p.m.

Nov. 16

Flagler at Embry-Riddle, 6 p.m.

Trinity Baptist at Bethune-Cookman, 7 p.m.

Nov. 19

Pasco-Hernandez at Trinity Baptist, 2 p.m.

Flagler at Spring Hill (Ala.), 4 p.m.

South Carolina State at North Florida, 5 p.m.

Nov. 20

Vorhees (S.C.) at Jacksonville, 2 p.m.

Nov. 21

North Florida at Duquesne, 7 p.m.

Women: JU takes Kansas to the brink

Player of the week: Transfer Lyric Swann had 18 points, five rebounds, four assists and four steals in North Florida’s 92-63 victory over Warner to open the season.

Game of the week: The Dolphins cut a 13-point lead to six in the fourth quarter but the Jayhawks held off the upset bid. Shynia Jackson led JU with 15 points and added four rebounds, Seraphine Bastin had 14 points, 12 rebounds and five assists and Deshari Graham added 13 points.

Stat line of the week: Katia Bogun of Trinity Baptist had 22 points and 10 rebounds, and shot 10 of 13 from the floor in the Eagles’ 91-58 victory over Wesleyan (Ga.).

Noting UNF (1-0): The Ospreys' game against Charleston Southern last Thursday was postponed because of the approach of Hurricane Nicole. After a game at Wisconsin on Sunday, UNF travels to Dublin, Ireland to play Rider on Nov. 18 and Marist on No. 19.

Noting JU (1-1): The Dolphins’ loss to Kansas was their third against teams currently in the Big 12 and they’ve been competitive in all three. JU lost to Kansas State 53-43 in 2008 and to Texas Tech 62-48 in 2013.

Noting Edward Waters (0-1): The Tigers fell 72-56 at Bethune-Cookman, getting outscored 21-11 in the third quarter after trailing 31-25 at halftime. Junior guard Tatum Hayes – who transferred from Bethune – led EWU with 20 points and five 3-pointers.

Noting Trinity Baptist (2-2): Behind Bogun and Caroline Smith of Lake Butler (15 rebounds), the Eagles out-rebounded Wesleyan 49-13.

Noting Flagler (0-1): The Saints had a brutal preseason, losing exhibitions to Florida State (119-27) and Stetson (79-52). They kept it competitive in their opening game on Saturday, losing to Anderson University 63-55. Sharale McCormick had 19 points, four rebounds, three assists and three steals.

This week’s games 

Nov. 15

Flagler at Florida Tech, 6 p.m.

Edward Waters at Coastal Georgia, 6 p.m.

Trinity Baptist at Warner, 6 p.m.

Nov. 17

Wesleyan College (Ga.) at Trinity Baptist, 5 p.m.

Nov. 18

North Florida vs. Rider, Dublin, Ireland, 2:30 p.m.

Edward Waters at Virginia State, 6 p.m.

Nov. 19

North Florida vs. Marist, Dublin, Ireland, 9:30 a.m.

Florida International at Jacksonville, 1 p.m.

Flagler at Nova Southeastern, 2 p.m.

Trinity Baptist at St. Leo, 3:30 p.m.

Edward Waters at Virginia Union, 4 p.m.

Nov. 20

Edward Waters at Clanton (S.C.), 6 p.m.

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

This article originally appeared on Florida Times-Union: The week ahead in First Coast college basketball: UNF women will play two in Ireland