GULFPORT, Miss. – The University of North Florida men's basketball team continues its five-games-in-eight days-road-trip today as it traveled from Chicago to New Orleans, and then onto Gulfport, Miss., as it prepares to play in the South Mississippi Christmas Classic (Dec. 21-23).
The Ospreys face Canisius on Monday, Dec. 21, at 5:30 p.m. ET, before taking on New Orleans on Tuesday (Dec. 22 at 5:30 p.m. ET) and Southern Miss. on Wednesday (Dec. 23 at 8 p.m. ET). Canisius is 4-5 on the year, while New Orleans is 5-5 and Southern Miss 7-1 heading into their game on Monday.
The Canisius and New Orleans games will be joined in progress at approximately 6 p.m. ET on AM 1320 WBOB and 103.7 FM in Jacksonville or on-line at 1320WBOB.com. The Southern Miss game will air live.
The tournament in Gulfport will be games three, four and five of the five-game in eight-day stretch for the Ospreys. North Florida took on Northwestern on Wednesday, Dec. 16, and Marquette on Saturday, Dec. 19. The team flew out of Chicago this morning and bused from New Orleans to Gulfport. North Florida opens the season with 10 of its first 11 games on the road before returning home on Dec. 30 at face Palm Beach Atlantic.
North Florida is 1-7 on the year and 0-2 in Atlantic Sun Conference play. The Ospreys have now played seven of their first eight games on the road, including games at Notre Dame (Big East), Illinois State (Missouri Valley), Alabama (SEC), Northwestern (Big Ten) and Marquette (Big East).
“We are extremely excited to make this last leg of our five game in eight day trip,” said North Florida head coach Matthew Driscoll. “This tournament provides us an opportunity to play multiple teams in consecutive days like we will do in the A-Sun Tournament. Also, this will teach our players scouting and preparation in a quick turnaround situation like we will experience throughout our A-Sun regular season.
“Canisius is a very aggressive and athletic team that plays extremely hard and is well coached. There top two scorers are guards which is something we've seen a lot during our last several games. We also know that New Orleans and Southern Miss will be challenging games as well.”
A season ticket for basketball is $120 and includes all men's and women's home games, a total of 28 games on 19 event dates, including nine Atlantic Sun Conference double headers. A special rate is available for UNF Alumni ($110) and UNF Faculty and Staff ($105). A Family 4-pack is also available for the season at $360. Select seating areas require an Osprey Club membership (per seat donation).
Single-game pricing is $10 for adults and $8 for youth 17-and-under and senior citizens 55-and-older. Children 2-and-under and any current UNF student with a valid Osprey1 Card are admitted free. Student guest passes are $5 and limited to one per student.
For more information or to purchase basketball season tickets call 904-620-BIRD (2473) or email ospreytickets@unf.edu.
