At this stage, in two seasons going nowhere, a victory over anyone would have been uplifting for Jacksonville University and the University of North Florida men’s basketball teams.
But the fact that JU snapped a four-game losing streak with their first victory over UNF since the 2023-24 season in the first of two River City Rumble games in 14 days might have made the Valentine’s candy taste sweeter.
JU responded to its first deficit of the game with 7:16 left to outscore UNF 18-8 over the time remaining to win 63-56 on Feb. 14 at Swisher Gym, tying the series rivalry at 23-23. The Dolphins (10-17, 5-9 in the ASUN) broke away from a tie for 10th with the Ospreys (6-21, 4-10) and are now tied for ninth with Stetson with four conference games remaining.
The Ospreys have lost three in a row and five of their last six.
In a rugged, gritty defensive struggle in which the officials let both teams play physical basketball, the difference came down to JU’s production off turnovers and second-chance points. The Dolphins outscored UNF 17-8 off turnovers (committing only eight themselves) and 17-5 off seven offensive rebounds.
“Our practice is way harder than any game,” said junior forward Jason Thirdkill Jr., who led JU with 19 points and nine rebounds, with 10 points coming before the first media timeout. “We’re ready to go any night.”
UNF coach Bobby Kennen admitted that while his players don’t shy away from a physical game (UNF out-rebounded JU 28-25) the dearth of whistles benefited the taller, huskier Dolphins.
“Very physical game but it’s what you expect for a conference game in the middle of February,” Kennen said. “Not a lot of margin for error, limited possessions but credit my guys as well. We did a great job defensively. We were able to shrink the floor. We were able to rebound. But it seemed like when they needed a big rebound, they got it. [The referees calling the game loose] plays in their [JU] favor. The further you get in the season, the whistles go away.”
Neither team lit up the afternoon offensively. JU shot 43 percent and UNF 45 percent overall. The Dolphins made 8 of 23 3-point attempts (35 percent) and UNF connected on 7 of 19 (37 percent.
Game hinged on 9-0 JU run
After UNF guard and ASUN scoring leader Kamrin Oriol (team-high 16 points) scored inside on back-to-back possessions to give the Ospreys their first lead, and then a three-point edge with 6:42 left at 48-45, the Dolphins used defense and rebounding to muscle their way back into the lead for good.
Junior forward Donovan Rivers made a layup at the other end and after Oriol missed a 3-point attempt (he was only 2 of 8 for the game), freshman point guard Evan Sterck (17 points) drained a shot from beyond the arc.
Rivers was fouled rebounding a missed shot on the next trip down the court and he made both shots. Chris Lockett then made a steal in the backcourt and Sterck made a 10-footer with 3:31 left for a 54-48 JU lead.
UNF sophomore guard Kent Jackson (15 points, nine rebounds) hit a 3-pointer and graduate guard Dalton Gayman sliced inside for a layup to cut the margin to one point. Lockett then worked a gorgeous give-and-go with Rivers for a layup after Rivers snared an offensive rebound and passed the ball out, and a Lockett steal set up a 3-pointer by Thirdkill that was final dagger with 1:06 left.
“These guys made some exceptional plays with their teammates,” JU coach Jordan Mincy said, gesturing in the post-game news conference to Thirdkill and Sterck. “To be able to take care of our home court, knowing we’ve had the stretch we’ve had, I have to give credit to the guys for understanding what it took to have a gutsy win.”
Jackson, as an Episcopal graduate who played for Mincy at JU last year, said he tried to keep the game in perspective, that it meant the same, win or lose, as any ASUN game.
“I’m not going to lie to you,” he said. “I’m bought into this rivalry like everybody else. At the end of the day, it’s just another game.”
What’s ahead for JU, UNF?
The Dolphins will play two of their last four games at home but go on the road to Florida Gulf Coast on Feb. 18. After facing conference leader Austin Peay on Feb. 21 and Stetson on Feb. 26 at Swisher Gym, JU travels to UNF on Feb. 28 for the final regular-season game, at 6 p.m.
UNF plays host to Austin Peay on Feb. 19, is at Stetson on Feb. 21, and closes the season with two games at home vs. Florida Gulf Coast and JU.
The ASUN men’s and women’s basketball tournaments begin on March 3-4 with first-round games at the University of North Florida. If UNF’s men’s or women’s teams are in a first-round game, they will play at JU. The quarterfinals, semifinals and championship games will be at the VyStar Veterans Memorial Arena.
What are the River City Rumble standings?
UNF leads the season-long competition with JU in common sports 5.5-4.5 after the men’s and women’s basketball victories for the Dolphins on Feb. 14. North Florida has won six and tied one (retaining the Old Wooden Barrel) in the last seven seasons.
This article originally appeared on Florida Times-Union: Jacksonville University men’s basketball snaps losing streak, ties UNF rivalry
Reporting by Garry Smits, Jacksonville Florida Times-Union / Florida Times-Union
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
