HOOP SCOOP: Continental Tires Las Vegas Invitational

GAME GLANCE
Game 8: LIU	Thursday, Nov. 28 \| 4:30 p.m. (ET) \| Las Vegas, Nev. \| Orleans Arena
Game 8: LIU	TV/Video: Live Stats \| Watch (n/a) \| Listen (n/a)
Series History	0-0 \| @UNF: 0-0, @LIU: 0-0, @Neutral: 0-0 \| Streak: n/a
Last Meeting	First Meeting \| --- \| Recap - Boxscore
Social Media	@OspreysMBB \| #SWOOPLife \| Facebook \| @UNFOspreys

LAS VEGAS - The North Florida men's basketball team conclude play in the Continental Tires Las Vegas Invitational with a pair of games during Thanksgiving beginning Thursday against Long Island University at 4:30 p.m. (ET) from the Orleans Arena. The Ospreys would then face either Cal Poly or Tennessee State on Friday afternoon.

1. REWIND
UNF dropped a tough 76-67 decision at Creighton on Sunday | Ospreys led for a good portion of the first half against the Bluejays and were in front 36-31 at intermission | Creighton capitalized on a sluggish second half start for North Florida to build a lead and then hold off a late surge | Carter Hendricksen led the way with 19 points and eight rebounds while Wajid Aminu chipped in 17 pts/9 rebs/3 blks | UNF failed to reach double digit 3PM for the first time all season but were 19 of 21 from the FT line and outrebounded Creighton, 39-38

2. LAS VEGAS INVITATIONAL HISTORY
North Florida is making its second appearance in the Continental Tires Las Vegas Invitational, playing in the 2012 event | Ospreys lost at Colorado State (83-55) and Portland (74-64) before posting wins at the Orleans Arena over CS Bakersfield (80-70) and Georgia Southern (74-46)

3. AGAINST REST OF FIELD
The Ospreys will be making their inaugural appearance against LIU | North Florida dropped its only meeting with Cal Poly (76-42 in Provo, Utah in 2008) | UNF has never faced Tennessee State on the hardwood

4. #BIRDSofTREY
With 90 3PM this season, UNF leads the nation from beyond the arc | The Ospreys have posted double digit 3PM in 6 of 7 games this season and are currently averaging 12.9 threes per game (1st in nation) | JT Escobar is listed 7th nationally for 3PM (23)

5. NEUTRAL ZONE
The games this week in the Las Vegas Invitational will mark the 23rd and 24th neutral site games of the Driscoll Era at North Florida | Ospreys are 14-8 in neutral site games under Driscoll including 12-3 mark in regular season contests | UNF has lost three of their last five neutral site match-ups

SCOUTING LIU
- Long Island enters Thursday's game with a 1-5 record after back-to-back losses at San Diego State (81-64) and Texas Tech (96-66)
- Sharks have played just one home game this season and will be playing their fifth straight on the road
- LIU features three players in double digits paced by Raiquan Clark's 20.0 PPG
- Ty Flowers averages a double-double (14.5 PPG/ 11.8 RPG) for the Sharks

SCOUTING CAL POLY
- Cal Poly is 1-5 heading into their match-up with Tennessee State on Thursday
- The Mustangs have dropped three straight including losses to Creighton (86-70) and Iowa (85-59)
- Junior Ballard tops CP in scoring at 11.8 PPG
- Cal Poly has played 5 road games this year | Lone win was 89-45 vs Simpson at home

SCOUTING TENNESSEE STATE
- Tennessee State brings a 3-3 mark into the weekend
- Tigers have lost two straight against Texas Tech (72-57) and San Diego State (62-49)
- TSU is 3-0 at home and 0-3 on the road
- Three Tigers are averaging double figures led by Michael Littlejohn (11.8 PPG) and Carlos Marshall (11.3 PPG)

PROBABLE OSPREY STARTERS
G - Ivan Gandia-Rosa (13.2 PPG | 3.8 RPG | 6.5 APG)
G - JT Escobar (14.5 PPG | 1.3 RPG)
F - Dorian James (4.8 PPG | 4.0 RPG)
F - Carter Hendricksen (15.2 PPG | 8.7 RPG)
F - Wajid Aminu (10.2 PPG | 6.7 RPG)

UP NEXT
Following the Las Vegas Invitational, North Florida heads back to Jacksonville for its lone home game in a 12-game span as the Ospreys host High Point on Dec. 2

FOLLOW THE ACTION: Stay connected with the Ospreys all season long by following @OspreysMBB and @UNFOspreys on Twitter for all of the latest UNF men's basketball updates. Be sure to use the hashtag #SWOOPLife and #BirdsofTrey

Next Event

Players Mentioned

Wajid Aminu

Ivan Gandia-Rosa

Carter Hendricksen

Dorian James

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