Kevin Thompson recorded 10 pts and 10 rebs and was selected to the Mayan Division All-Tournament Team of the Cancun Challenge.
Boxscore
CANCUN, Mexico – North Florida had a balanced attack and pulled off another a win, beating Morgan State 59-52 in the Mayan Division championship game of the 2010 Cancun Challenge in Mexico on Wednesday.
It was a grind it out kind of game, with both teams really getting after each other.
The Ospreys (3-3) led by 10 through the second half, withstood Morgan State's late rally and held on down the stretch to earn their first victory against a Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference opponent.
Andres Diaz, Matt Sauey and Parker Smith scored 11 points apiece for North Florida, which turned in a solid defensive performance.
Morgan State (2-3) shot poorly from the perimeter – 1 for 11 from 3-point range – and was outscored 6-0 in fastbreak baskets in the second half as the Bears finished as the Mayan Division runners-up.
DeWayne Jackson finished with 12 points, and Kevin Thompson posted 10 points and 10 rebounds for Morgan State, which struggled from the field just a day after shooting 49 percent (26-53) in a win against Western Illinois.
Morgan State shot 32 percent (20-of-62) from the field, while the Ospreys hit 22-of-56 (39 percent) from the floor.
The Bears outrebounded North Florida by a commanding 44-31 margin, and shot 11-of 16 from the free throw line. North Florida shot 88 percent from the charity stripe (8-9).
It was a low scoring first half and a layup by Andres Diaz at the 2:27 minute mark gave the Ospreys a 25-15 lead, its largest of the first half. Morgan State completed the first half by shooting just 24 percent from the field (7-for-29). Morgan State point guard Larry Bastfield converted a conventional 3-point play to help the Bears trim North Florida's halftime lead to 27-22.
Bastfield finished with 6 points and 3 steals, Rodney Stokes added 9 points, and Aric Brooks had 10 boards and 7 points for the Bears.
The Bears will host local non-conference opponent Loyola on Monday night (Nov. 29) at Hill Field House. Tip-off is scheduled for 7 p.m.
Bear Notes:
Kevin Thompson and Aric Brooks were selected to the Mayan Division All-Tournament Team.
Kevin Thompson didn't get his first basket until the 5:16 mark of the first half; he didn't shoot his first free throw until the 1:50 mark of the second half.
Tola Lawal missed his first free throw of the season …he entered the ballgame 7-of-7, and is currently 8-of-9 from the stripe.
Mayan Division Final Standings
1. South Florida
2. Morgan State
3. Western Illinois
4. Prairie View A&M
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