GULFPORT, Miss. -- Stan Januska scored a game-high 19 points to help North Florida to a 64-49 win over New Orleans in second-day action of the South Mississippi Christmas Classic on Tuesday.
Germaine Sparks added 13 points and eight rebounds, as UNF (3-7) won for the second straight day.
Charles Carmouche paced the Privateers (5-7) with 10 points and eight rebounds, though the sophomore was just 4-for-14 from the field. UNO played without leading scorer Billy Humphrey, who was sidelined with a knee injury.
The Privateers struggled without the Georgia transfer, especially early. UNF made eight 3-pointers in the first half to grab a 35-18 lead at halftime. The Ospreys shot 54 percent during the frame and held UNO to just 33 percent.
It was UNO's fifth straight loss.
"We were anemic offensively," said UNO head coach Joe Pasternack. "We didn't defend in the first half, and they took advantage of it."
The Privateers fared a little better in the second half, outscoring UNF 31-29 and shooting 48 percent. But UNO could never get the lead under double figures, though the Ospreys tried to keep the Privateers in it by making just 17 of 32 free throws.
Freshman reserve guard Quincy Diggs had a season-best eight points for UNO, and Johann Mpondo also scored eight. Ejike Hart, coming off the bench for the second straight game, pulled down nine rebounds.
Hart helped UNO out-rebounded the Ospreys 35-26, though the Privateers were hampered with 19 turnovers -- 11 in the first half.
"We came to play in the second half, but it wasn't enough," Pasternack said. "We're just not explosive enough to overcome a 17-point deficit at halftime."
The Privateers will wrap up the three-day tournament with a 4:30 p.m. matchup against Canisius on Wednesday.
