North Florida collects huge road win behind big nights from Lanier and Nze

North Florida's Chaz Lanier recorded a team-high 29 in Wednesday's victory at Queens. (Photo:  North Florida Athletics)

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CHARLOTTE – Deyton Albury has been a difference-maker for Queens at the point guard position. Albury was unable to go for the Royals Wednesday, which was a problem in and of itself.

When combined with North Florida’s play, that problem was compounded.

The visiting Ospreys struck early and trailed only briefly, getting 29 points from Chaz Lanier and landing three others in double figures on the way to a 93-79 result at Curry Arena.

“What great fight,” North Florida coach Matthew Driscoll said after the game in comments released through the school. “I thought from the start we really set the tone on the defensive end. I thought we allowed our defense to turn into offense, and that’s when we’ve always been really, really good.”

The Ospreys – save for a small stretch in the first portion of the game – indeed set the tone. North Florida (14-13, 7-5 ASUN) raced out to an 11-2 lead, getting nine points from Chaz Lanier to key the early charge. Queens (10-17, 4-8) countered with a 10-0 burst of its own, getting seven of those points from guard AJ McKee in seizing a 12-11 advantage.

North Florida started to put the game away from there, though. The Ospreys tore off a 14-1 charge that put them ahead by 12. Queens countered to slip within single digits twice in the period, but North Florida took a 15-point lead to the interval.

The Ospreys also held a 22-14 rebounding advantage at the half, which told much of the story to Queens coach Grant Leonard.

“If we’re going to get our butt whipped on the glass, it’s not going to matter much,” Leonard said. “Giving them 14 offensive rebounds and 20-plus second-chance points – we’re never going to win like that. That’s not a team that should do that to us. That was the difference in the game.”

Leonard also acknowledged the loss of Albury and the effect it had on the team.

“(The effort) definitely wasn’t here tonight,” Leonard said. “I think our guys were all in shock about Deyton and they let it get to them, instead of just doing their job and playing really hard. Our standard is way higher than that, and we need to a better job on the glass.”

The story was much the same in the second half. The Ospreys maintained a double-figure lead for the entire second half, growing the lead as far as 23 points on two separate occasions. Queens mounted a bit of a challenge, slicing the deficit as thinly as 12 on a three from Chris Ashby. Lanier scored the final 11 points for the Ospreys, however, and helped put away the Royals.

“We’re going to take this into Friday, because Jacksonville will embarrass you on the glass,” Leonard said. “We need to do an unbelievable job of understanding and watching the film and come out with our hair on fire.”

Lanier’s 29 paced the visitors. The star Osprey guard made 10-of-21 tries from the floor and 6-of-8 from the line. Nze scored a career-high 22, contributing 7-of-13 from the floor and 5-of-6 from the line in place of Max Hrdlicka, whom Driscoll indicated was indefinitely suspended in his postgame remarks.

“I stay ready. I get in the gym every single time,” Nze told the media after the game. “I just try to help my teammates and my coaches. When they call my name, I’m there.”

“It was just my teammates finding me and trusting me to make my shots.”

“I’m really, really proud of Jah Nze,” Driscoll said. “He hasn’t been playing as much. Because of Max not being with us, he was able to go out and -- because of the way he’s practiced and the way he’s done what he’s done, he was able to perform. I’m super proud of him.”

Nate Lliteras added 13 for the Ospreys, hitting 4-of-5 from the field and 3-of-4 from three. Guard Jaylen Smith hit the same numbers of shots, contributing 11 off the pine for North Florida. The Ospreys shot 47 percent (31-of-66) from the field, including 38.2 percent (13-of-34) from deep. North Florida added 18-of-22 (81.8 percent) from the line.

McKee’s 30 topped all scorers, as the Charlotte native hit 10-of-20 attempts. Kalib Mathews, who started in place of Albury, joined McKee in double figures by hitting 6-of-10 tries to finish with 14.

“Kalib Mathews is really coming on,” Leonard said. “His last few games have been excellent. He’s really figuring it out and has gotten through the injuries, and I’m proud of him for how far he’s come.”

Both squads return to league play Friday night. North Florida travels to Kennesaw State for a 7:00 (Eastern) tip from the KSU Convocation Center. Queens hosts visiting Jacksonville in Curry Arena for a 7:00 start. Both games will be available for streaming on ESPN+.

NORTH FLORIDA 93, QUEENS 79

NORTH FLORIDA (14-13, 7-5 ASUN)

Miles 1-5 2-2 4, Lanier 10-21 6-8 29, James 1-3 0-0 2, Lliteras 4-5 2-2 13, Smith 4-5 0-0 11, Nze 7-13 5-6 22, Coleman 1-1 2-2, Van Der Heijden 3-11 0-0 7, Berry 0-2 1-2 1. Totals 31-66 18-22 93.

QUEENS (10-17, 4-8)

Sebock 1-4 0-0 2, Mathews 6-10 0-1 14, McKee 10-20 6-10 30, McLaurin 1-5 6-7 8, Cash 4-10 0-0 8, George 3-6 1-2 7, Ashby 2-6 0-0 6, Pollard 2-3 0-0 0, Wilson 0-0 0-2 0. Totals 29-64 16-22 79.

Halftime:  North Florida 47-32. 3-Point goals:  North Florida 13-34 (Miles 0-3, Lanier 3-10, Lliteras 3-4, Smith 3-4, Nze 3-6, Van Der Heijden 1-5, Berry 0-2), Queens 5-19 (Sebock 0-1, Mathews 2-3, McKee 1-5, McLaurin 0-1, Cash 0-1, George 0-2, Ashby 2-6). Fouled out:  Smith (UNF), James (UNF), McKee (QUC).  Rebounds:  North Florida 40 (Lanier 9), Queens 34 (Mathews 7). Total fouls:  North Florida 18, Queens 17. Technicals:  NA.

Points off turnovers:  Queens 12, North Florida 11.  Points in the paint:  Queens 48, North Florida 36.  Second-chance points:  North Florida 19, Queens 8.  Fast-break points:  North Florida 15, Queens 12.  Bench points:  North Florida 34, Queens 17.