UNIVERSITY PARK, Ill. -- Joffrey Nunnally authored his sixth career 20-plus point performance, but the University of St. Francis men's basketball team still came up 12 points short in an 83-71 Chicagoland Collegiate Athletic Conference setback to Governors State University on Saturday afternoon.

The Saints converted at a .373 clip for the game (19-of-51), and were just 6-of-15 from three-point range (.400), while Governors State shot 53.7 percent overall (29-of-54) with 32 of their points coming in the paint.  Turnovers also played a key role in the outcome with GSU forcing a season-high 21 turnovers for the Saints which resulted in a 23-4 scoring differential in favor of the Jaguars.

The two teams combined to shoot 57 free throws on the night with the Saints recording a season-best 27-for-30 (.900) showing while the Jaguars carried out a 23-for-27 (.852) effort.

The Saints (8-4, 4-2) got back into the game after getting behind by double figures at the start of the half, including by as many as 18 points seven minutes after the intermission.  Back-to-back jumpers from Nunnally later cut the Saints' deficit (70-58) down to 12 points with 5:03 to play, but the last five minutes, however, saw Governors State score on each of its remaining seven possessions culminating with a pair of free throws to go up 83-71 at the end of regulation.

Nunnally led a group of four USF players that scored in double figures.  He totaled a game-high 21 points with Damarcies Moore adding 14.  Merrick Small and Justen Morgan each chipped in 10.

Governors State's Deven Jiles led all Jaguar scorers with 18 points to go along with six rebounds.  Maxwell Marius provided 17 points.

Up Next
The Saints are back at home on Wednesday (Jan. 7) when they host Saint Xavier University in a 7 pm tipoff at the Pat Sullivan Center.

You can keep up with everything happening around USF Athletics on X @USFSaints.