Men’s Basketball Stuns South Carolina, Earns First SEC Win
North Florida men's basketball wasted no time making headlines in 2024-25 as the Ospreys (1-0), went into South Carolina and stunned the Gamecocks (0-1), 74-71, to earn the program's first-ever win against an SEC program. It was also ÀÏ°ÄÃÅ×ÊÁÏ's third win against a Power Four team all-time and first since defeating Illinois, 93-81, in Champaign, Ill., Nov. 13, 2015. ÀÏ°ÄÃÅ×ÊÁÏ outscored South Carolina, 15-7, down the stretch, overcoming a five-point deficit after the final media timeout.
North Florida had four with double-digit points, paced by Jaylen Smith's 16 on 6-for-13 shooting. Liam Murphy impressed in his ÀÏ°ÄÃÅ×ÊÁÏ debut, notching 14 points off the bench, while Jasai Miles was one rebound short of a double-double.
Down 64-61 with 1:49 to go, Kamrin Oriol drained a game-tying three from the top of the key. South Carolina replied with a go-ahead layup, but Miles punched back with a go-ahead trey seconds later. ÀÏ°ÄÃÅ×ÊÁÏ never gave up the lead, hitting free throws while getting a stop to seal the deal.
ÀÏ°ÄÃÅ×ÊÁÏ's only other meeting against South Carolina was in the season opener 2014-15, the same year North Florida went on to win the league title.
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Cheer on men’s basketball Thursday, Nov. 7, as they take on Charleston Southern in the ÀÏ°ÄÃÅ×ÊÁÏ Arena. and view other .