Smith scores 26 points as Stetson beats North Florida 71-60 to snap 6-game losing streak

Stetson beats North Florida 71-60

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — A.J. Smith scored 19 points and Stetson defeated North Florida 71-60 on Thursday night.

The Hatters (6-18, 4-12) snapped a six-game losing streak and stayed alive in the hunt for a berth in the Atlantic Sun Conference tournament. Only eight of the conference’s nine eligible teams qualify for the postseason.

Ridge Graham added 13 points and nine rebounds, and Joel Naburgs had 11 points for the Hatters.

The Hatters, who outrebounded North Florida 38-28, had 13 second-chance points.

Stetson led by 15 points with 1:03 to play in the first half and was ahead 36-26 at halftime. The Ospreys could not catch up in the second half, partly due to shooting only 38.6 percent from the field (22 of 57).

Matt Sauey led the Ospreys (11-14, 6-9) with 18 points, while Germaine Sparkes and Brad Haugabrook each scored 10.