Ospreys open with OT thriller: Carter Hendricksen, Jarius Hicklen lead victory over Austin Peay
Carter Hendricksen and Jose Placer, usually two of the best clutch shooters for the University of North Florida, found baskets hard to come by on Saturday in the Ospreys’ ASUN opener against Austin Peay.
Better late than never.
Hendricksen led a comeback in regulation by scoring seven points in a row inside the two-minute mark, and Placer scored five points in overtime, including a 3-pointer to open the period, and UNF went on to win 90-85 at UNF Arena.
The Ospreys (7-8, 0-1) broke a 2-2 tie in the series with the Governors (6-9, 0-2), who are in their first season in the ASUN.
Hendricksen (15 points, nine rebounds) and Placer (17 points) failed to score in the first 11:15 of the game. Placer went on to join Jarius Hicklen (18 points, four assists) in the 1,000-point club.
UNF coach Matthew Driscoll credited his team’s non-conference schedule, which included games at Gonzaga, Kentucky and Pittsburgh, with building enough scar tissue to weather conference games like Saturday’s.
“These guys had great confidence and because of that we were able to make those big shots down the stretch and then make big plays in overtime with the lead, and get to the free-throw line,” he said. ”They’ve got incredible esprit de corps and connectivity … incredible.”
After trailing by 10 points early in the second half, the Ospreys gradually closed the gap and took their first lead since the opening minutes, 52-50, on Jarius Hicklen’s 3-pointer.
But Sean Durugordon (a game-high 27 points) hit a 3-pointer with 2:27 left to give Austin Peay a 68-64 lead. Hendricksen then took over, making 4 of 4 from the line and a 3-pointer to give UNF a 71-70 leaf with 30 seconds left.
Elijah Hutchins-Everett hit a pair from the line to put the Governors back ahead, Hicklen drained a 3-pointer with seven seconds left and Cameron Copeland got away with a double-dribble and made a layup at the buzzer to send the game to overtime.
Hicklen rushed the ball up the court without a time out after Hutchins-Everett made his second shot, a ploy he implored Driscoll to use during a time out after the first free throws.
Hicklen said he didn’t have a particular idea in mind when getting the ball upcourt, until he pulled up on the left wing for the shot.
“I didn’t know what I was going to do,” he said. ”Coach just said bring it up. I didn’t know the defense was going to be set or anything. It was just a natural play.”
Replays on the scoreboard clearly showed Copeland picking his dribble up, then putting the ball on the floor to drive to the basket but it’s not a reviewable call.
Placer said the team moved on quickly from the non-call.
“Our focus was going to overtime,” Placer said.
After Placer and Shon Robinson traded 3s, Hicklen connected again and the Ospreys never trailed after that. Four players combined to make 6 of 8 free throws down the stretch.
UNF overcame missing 10 of its first 11 3-point attempts and a torrid shooting display in the first half by the Governors, who made 55 percent of their shots before intermission. The Ospreys were 9 of 30 from beyond the arc (.300).
Dolphins lose huge lead to FGCU
Florida Gulf Coast rallied from an 18-point deficit to beat Jacksonville 72-65 at Alico Arena in Fort Myers.
Kevion Nolan made a 3-pointer with 16:46 left in the game to give JU (7-5, 0-1) a 49-31 lead but the Eagles (11-3, 1-0) rallied behind Zach Anderson (18 points) and Isaiah Thompson (14 points) to go on a 26-6 run to take a 57-55 lead.
Anderson scored 10 points during the run and Thompson, Chase Johnston and Caleb Catto added 3-pointers.
Gyasi Powell, a Bishop Snyder graduate, hit a 3-pointer to give the Dolphins a 65-64 lead with 4:38 left but JU didn't score again. Powell and Jordan Davis led JU with 16 points each. Nolan had 12 points and six assists.
This article originally appeared on Florida Times-Union: Carter Hendricksen, Jarius Hicklen lead UNF comeback over Austin Peay
