FORT MYERS, Fla. (AP) — Parker Smith scored 19 points and Matt Sauey hit a late layup to help lift North Florida over Florida Gulf Coast 53-51 on Saturday night.
The Ospreys (13-18, 10-10 Atlantic Sun Conference) trailed 51-50 following two free throws from Sherwood Brown with 1:33 left.
On the ensuing possession, Sauey converted the ultimate game-winning layup with 1:12 remaining and the Eagles (9-20, 6-13) went 0 for 4 from the floor in the final minute, sealing the win for North Florida.
Florida Gulf Coast led 26-22 at halftime, but went 7 for 25 from the field (28 percent) and shot 50 percent from the free-throw line (10 of 20) in the second half.
Kevin Cantinol scored 12 points, while Anthony Banks and Brown each added 11 points for the Eagles, who finished 17 for 55 from the floor (30.9 percent), including 2 of 13 from 3-point range (15.4 percent).
