HOOP SCOOP: Ospreys at #18 Dayton

By: North Florida Athletics

Men's Basketball | 12/29/2019 10:00:00 AM

GAME GLANCE
Game 14: Dayton	Monday, Dec. 30 \| 7:00 p.m. (ET) \| Dayton, Ohio \| UD Arena
Game 14: Dayton	TV/Video: Live Stats \| Watch Fox Sports Ohio / (ESPN+) $
Series History	UNF trails 0-2 \| @UNF: 0-0, @UD: 0-2, @Neutral: 0-0 \| Streak: L2
Last Meeting	UD 78, UNF 70 \| Nov. 7, 2018 at UD Arena \| Recap / Boxscore
Social Media	@OspreysMBB \| #SWOOPLife \| Facebook \| @UNFOspreys

DAYTON, Ohio - Following a nine-day break from competition for the holidays, North Florida basketball closes out the non-conference portion of its schedule on Monday night against No. 18-ranked Dayton at UD Arena. The game tips at 7 p.m. on ESPN+.

1. REWIND
The Ospreys fell at Syracuse on Dec. 21 in their last outing, 82-70 | UNF finished with 17 three-pointers against the vaunted Cuse zone | JT Escobar led the way with 19 points including 6 3PM while Wajid Aminu hauled down a season best 10 rebounds | North Florida led for a good portion of the first half and were down just two (35-33) at the break but an 11-0 run early in the second half by the Orange proved to be the difference

2. #BIRDSofTREY
With 179 3PM this season, UNF leads the nation from beyond the arc | The Ospreys have posted double digit 3PM in 12 of 14 games this season and are currently averaging a nation's best 12.8 threes per game | Against Trinity Baptist (Nov. 18) UNF connected on a program record 21 three-pointers | Nine different players have made a trey this season for North Florida while all 12 players on the roster have attempted a three-pointer

3. ROAD WARRIORS
The Ospreys are in the midst of a seven consecutive road contests with UNF's next home appearance coming on Jan. 9 versus in-state rival FGCU | After an early four-game home stand, North Florida's schedule included a two-month span with 11 of 12 games away from Jacksonville | North Florida is 1-6 on the road this season having picked up their first road "W" at Southern Miss (Dec. 14)

4. BATTLING THE BIG BOYS
Monday's game marks the 76th "guarantee" game in head coach Matthew Driscoll's 11-year tenure and will be the program's 63rd game against a Power 5 squad | North Florida has posted a pair of "upset" wins in these games having topped Purdue (2014) and Illinois (2015) | Ospreys will be playing their 27th game against an AP Top 25 squad with UNF seeking its first win | North Florida is 0-5 all-time against A10 members (played St. Louis and VCU)

5. LAST TIME WE MET
North Florida opened the 2018-19 season at Dayton, battling the Flyers for all 40 minutes in a hard fought 78-70 loss | Former Osprey Noah Horchler posted a double-double with 19 pts/12 rebs while Garrett Sams added 15 pts and JT Escobar chipped in 11 | Dayton had four starters in double digits led by 18 for Obi Toppin

SCOUTING DAYTON
- Dayton is 10-2 this season including an undefeated 7-0 mark at UD Arena
- UD has yet to play a true road game this year and own a 3-2 mark at neutral sites
- Posted an 81-53 victory over Grambling in their last outing on Dec. 23
- Obi Toppin leads the Flyers in scoring (18.8 PPG) and rebounding (7.9 RPG) and is shooting 61.8% from the floor
- Dayton lineup features four players in double digits

PROBABLE OSPREY STARTERS
G - Ivan Gandia-Rosa (14.6 PPG | 3.4 RPG | 6.1 APG)
G - JT Escobar (12.8 PPG | 1.5 RPG)
G - Garrett Sams (14.0 PPG | 3.6 RPG)
F - Carter Hendricksen (16.3 PPG | 8.2 RPG)
F - Wajid Aminu (9.6 PPG | 6.1 RPG)

UP NEXT
North Florida tips off ASUN Conference play with a pair of road clashes beginning Thursday (Jan.2) at Kennesaw State followed by a battle with North Alabama on Jan. 4

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

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Players Mentioned

#0 Noah Horchler: F; 6' 8"; Junior; Criminal Justice

#2 Wajid Aminu: F; 6' 7"; Senior; International Business

#3 JT Escobar: G; 6' 2"; Redshirt Senior; Master's - Criminal Justice

#10 Ivan Gandia-Rosa: G; 6' 1"; Senior; Sport Management

#23 Carter Hendricksen: F; 6' 7"; Sophomore; Sport Management

#11 Garrett Sams: G/F; 6' 7"; Senior; Sport Management

Players Mentioned

#0 Noah Horchler
: 6' 8"; Junior; Criminal Justice
: F

#2 Wajid Aminu
: 6' 7"; Senior; International Business
: F

#3 JT Escobar
: 6' 2"; Redshirt Senior; Master's - Criminal Justice
: G

#10 Ivan Gandia-Rosa
: 6' 1"; Senior; Sport Management
: G

#23 Carter Hendricksen
: 6' 7"; Sophomore; Sport Management
: F

#11 Garrett Sams
: 6' 7"; Senior; Sport Management
: G/F