DeLAND—North Florida used a 21-2 run midway through the second half to break open a tie game and cruise to an 80-65 win over the Hatters in Atlantic Sun Conference play, Saturday at Edmunds Center.

Stetson (5-13, 0-3) lost despite a second straight outstanding effort by senior forward Kentwan Smith, who finished with a game-high 20 points and eight rebounds. But it was foul trouble for Smith that led the Ospreys' game-changing run.

With the Hatters and league-leading Ospreys (11-9, 3-0) tied at 51-51 and 14:03 remaining, Smith picked up his fourth personal foul. By the time he returned with 7:41 left to play, UNF had raced to a 69-53 lead. A three-pointer by Trent Mackey 42 seconds later made it 72-53.

Smith stopped the bleeding for Stetson with a layup at 6:09, but by then the damage had already been done.

The Hatters and Ospreys battled through an entertaining first half, one which ended with UNF leading 44-37 at the break. Stetson led by as many as six points in the first half as Smith and freshman Grant Lozoya combined to score 17 of Stetson's first 19 points. But UNF took the lead for good when a Beau Beech three-pointer snapped a 22-22 tie with 8:14 left in the half.

Smith finished the game 8-of-10 from the field and 4-of-8 from the free throw line. This is his second straight 20-point effort after scoring 23 points Wednesday at Jacksonville. Over the last six games, Smith is averaging 16.8 points and 8.2 rebounds per game.

Lozoya added 15 points, eight rebounds and five assist for Stetson but he was just 2-of-10 from 3-point range. Brian Pegg had 12 points and six boards off the bench.

Four players scored in double figures for UNF. Beech and Jalen Nesbitt each had 17.

The Hatters return to the court when they open a two-game road swing at Kennessaw State, 7 p.m., Thursday, Jan. 22.

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