SSU Upends North Florida

November 27, 2007
SAVANNAH, Ga- Savannah State put together their best defensive effort of the season in a 58-32 thumping of North Florida in Tiger Arena. The crowd of 1,119 saw the Tigers string together a 23-0 run in the first half and hold UNF to just two field goals.

North Florida finished the game shooting 16.7 percent from the floor and committed 28 turnovers.

A dunk by James Grimball gave the Ospreys a 5-2 lead with 16:08 on the clock. That would be the last UNF field goal of the first half.

Savannah State answered with 23 straight points to take a 25-5 lead with 9:27 left in the first half. Six different Tigers scored during the run.

North Florida closed the gap to 16 points when Tom Hammonds hit a pair of free throws but SSU took their biggest lead of the half, 35-13, on a Curtis Brown free throw.

By halftime, SSU led 35-16, their bench out-scored the Osprey reserves 17-0 and the Tigers scored 22 points off 19 UNF turnovers.

North Florida was 11-of-16 from the free throw line in the opening period.

The Tigers had a 12-2 run midway in the second half to run their lead to 51-23 with 8:33 remaining.

A free throw and two lay-ups from Brown gave SSU its largest lead of the evening at 56-26 with 3:59 left.

UNF could only manage five field goals in the second half as they shot 17.9 percent from the floor and only hit one of eight 3-point attempts.

SSU was only 9-for-25 from the field in the second half and finished the game shooting 37.9 percent.

Grimball had 14 points and eight boards for UNF (1-5) while Hammonds scored 10.

Savannah State, who out-rebounded the Ospreys 41 to 39, improved to 5-4.

Brown had a career night getting 10 points, four assists and three steals for the Tigers. Lazaruis Coleman also scored 10 points. Joe Flegler and Anthony Jones chipped in nine points each.

Savannah State will have a six game road swing and will not return to Tiger Arena until a December 20 match-up with Stetson at 7:00 p.m.

SSU's next game will be at Creighton on November 29. The Game will start at 7:05 p.m.