Box Score ST. AUGUSTINE – Ante Gospic scored a game-high 23 points but it wasn't enough in Flagler College's 77-74 loss to Armstrong Atlantic State University in a Peach Belt Conference men's basketball game Thursday night at Flagler Gymnasium.

Armstrong improved to 12-7 overall and 8-4 in the Peach Belt. Flagler lost its third game in a row and fell to 9-11 overall and 5-8 in conference play.

Antroine Williford led the Pirates with 19 points and 13 rebounds while Aric Miller, who is second in the country in scoring, was held 10 points below his average with 15 points. Kenny Bellinger II added 10 points. Both J.C. Winn and Darius Morales scored nine points and grabbed 10 rebounds.

The Pirates struggled from the field, shooting just 37.2%, but out-rebounded the Saints 56-44 including grabbing 22 offensive boards which led to 20 second chance points.

Gospic scored 17 of his 23 points in the second half and added nine rebounds to his line. Ryan Barnes added a season-high 17 points and sank five 3-pointers. Richard Brown tallied 12 points, dished out six assists and grabbed five rebounds. Matt Clark chipped in with 10 points and tallied five assists.

The Saints shot a blistering 51.6% (16-31) from the field in the second half which included a 60% (6-10) mark from behind the 3-point line. Flagler made 10-of-19 from the free throw line, but missed seven of those in the second half.

The game was tight throughout with 10 ties and 10 lead changes. Armstrong held a 33-30 lead at the half.

The Saints held a 72-68 lead with 2:40 left in the game, but back-to-back baskets by Miller knotted the game at 72-all with 2:04 left. Gospic tipped in a miss by Brown with 1:47 left and that would be the last time Flagler would score any points. Bellinger sank a 3-pointer with one minute left to give the Pirates a 75-74 lead. The Saints had a chance to at least tie the game when Gospic was fouled with 47 seconds left for a one-and-one free throw, but he missed the shot and Eric Eversley grabbed the loose ball for Armstrong.

With 12 seconds left, Williford, who had been fouled after gathering an offensive rebound, went to the line and sank the first of two free throws, but the Pirates still only led by two points. Barnes put up a 3-pointer in front of the Flagler bench with five seconds left, but the ball rimmed out and Winn came away with the rebounds for the Pirates.   

Flagler will host UNC Pembroke on Saturday (Feb. 9) at 3:30 p.m. at Flagler Gymnasium.

Armstrong vs Flagler
02/07/13 7:45 p.m. at St. Augustine, Fla.
At St. Augustine, Fla.

ARMSTRONG 77, FLAGLER 74

ARMSTRONG (12-7, 8-4 PBC)
Antroine Williford 7-18 4-7 19; Aric Miller 6-15 3-4 15; Kenny Bellinger II
3-11 1-2 10; J.C. Winn 4-8 1-2 9; Darius Morales 4-9 1-3 9; Kelcey Walker
1-4 4-6 7; Eric Eversley 3-8 0-2 6; Kyle Callanan 1-5 0-0 2. Totals 29-78
14-26 77.

FLAGLER (9-11, 5-8 PBC)
Ante Gospic 9-14 5-9 23; Ryan Barnes 6-14 0-0 17; Richard Brown 5-12 0-0 12;
Matt Clark 3-11 3-4 10; Matt Conway 2-7 0-0 6; Adam Jones 1-3 1-2 3; Jarrod
Branco 1-5 0-0 2; Desmond Gibson 0-1 1-4 1; Matthias Sigurdarson 0-1 0-0 0;
Jordan Warner 0-0 0-0 0. Totals 27-68 10-19 74.

Armstrong.....................   33   44  -   77
Flagler.......................   30   44  -   74

3-point goals--Armstrong 5-24 (Kenny Bellinger II 3-9; Kelcey Walker 1-1;
Antroine Williford 1-6; Eric Eversley 0-2; Kyle Callanan 0-3; J.C. Winn 0-1;
Aric Miller 0-2), Flagler 10-29 (Ryan Barnes 5-10; Matt Conway 2-6; Richard
Brown 2-4; Matt Clark 1-6; Matthias Sigurdarson 0-1; Adam Jones 0-1; Ante
Gospic 0-1). Fouled out--Armstrong-None, Flagler-Adam Jones.
Rebounds--Armstrong 56 (Antroine Williford 13), Flagler 44 (Ante Gospic 9).
Assists--Armstrong 15 (Kyle Callanan 4), Flagler 17 (Richard Brown 6). Total
fouls--Armstrong 14, Flagler 18. Technical fouls--Armstrong-None,
Flagler-None. A-615