North Florida’s men’s basketball team saw its 2025 Atlantic Sun Championship run come to an early end, falling to Austin Peay 90-69 in the first round on Sunday evening at CB&S Bank Arena in Florence, Alabama.
Key Performances:
- Jasai Miles (North Florida, G, So.) – 15 points, 8 rebounds (37 minutes)
- Liam Murphy (North Florida, F, Grad.) – 16 points (6-10 FG, 4-6 3PT) in 26 minutes
- Jaylen Smith (North Florida, G, So.) – 14 points, 4 steals, 2 assists (28 minutes)
Game Recap
First Half:
North Florida came out strong, with Miles opening the scoring and Smith assisting Nate Lliteras on a transition basket for an early 6-0 lead. By the first media timeout, the Ospreys led 10-2, scoring all their points inside the paint.
Smith’s four-point play extended the advantage to 15-4 at the 14-minute mark. Murphy then hit his third three-pointer of the half, pushing the lead to 31-13 with just over eight minutes remaining.
Austin Peay responded, trimming the deficit to single digits at 37-30, but Murphy’s fourth three-pointer helped North Florida maintain a 45-38 lead heading into halftime.
Second Half:
Miles opened the half with a three-pointer to make it 48-40, but Austin Peay quickly gained momentum. The Governors took their first lead at 59-58 with 13 minutes left and never looked back.
Austin Peay stretched its lead to eight at 72-64 before Miles scored on a tough drive to keep North Florida in the fight. However, the Governors continued to dominate, closing out the game with their largest lead of 21 points in the final seconds.
Final Score:
Austin Peay 90, North Florida 69
Records:
- North Florida: 15-17 (8-10 ASUN)
- Austin Peay: 14-18 (8-10 ASUN)
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