JACKSONVILLE, Fla. -- UNF men's basketball plays its first contest against the ASUN West Division when it goes to Eastern Kentucky for a 7 p.m. tip-off against the Colonels in Richmond, Ky. The Ospreys are playing EKU for the second consecutive season and first time as ASUN foes.

LAST TIME OUT

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. - Jarius Hicklen had an unbelievable shooting day and UNF converted 14-of-24 three-pointers but the host Florida State Seminoles (12-5) were too much to handle down low in an 86-73 loss at FSU Thursday, Jan. 20.

PROJECTED STARTERS
G - Jarius Hicklen (9.7 PPG | 2.0 RPG | 1.1 APG)
G - Emmanuel Adedoyin (7.7 PPG | 2.1 RPG | 2.6 APG)
G - Jose Placer (12.9 PPG | 3.3 RPG | 2.7 APG)
F - Dorian James (4.7 PPG | 4.2 RPG | 1.3 APG)
F - Jadyn Parker (8.2 PPG | 4.9 RPG | 1.7 BPG)

SERIES HISTORY
-UNF and Eastern Kentucky are meeting for just the second time and for the first time as conference opponents. 
-EKU won the only meeting, a 80-67 victory for the Colonels in Raleigh, N.C., last season to open the 2020-21 campaign.
-North Florida has yet to play EKU in Richmond, Ky.
-Carter Hendricksen had 20 points, Jose Placer put up 13 and Emmanuel Adedoyin added 10 in the last year's meeting with EKU.

FROM THE JUMP

HOT HAND
Jarius Hicklen is 11-22 from three-point range over his last two games. He scored 27 vs. FSU, a season-high for the transfer from Oklahoma Baptist.
  
LET IT FLY
UNF has put up 535 three-pointers this season, the 10th most attempts in the entire country. UNF went 14-24 from beyond the arc vs. Florida State, its best mark of the 2021-22 season.

NOTABLE
-Jadyn Parker has blocked at least one shot in 14 of 18 games played. He tied the UNF single game record with 7 blocks earlier this season. 
-Parker ranks 48th in the nation with 31 blocks and is 59th in blocks/game at 1.72.
-Emmanuel Adedoyin has made a three-pointer in a team-best 17 consecutive ball games. He scored 18 at Florida State and ranks second in UNF history for three-point field goal percentage at 44.1.

SCOUTING REPORT | Eastern Kentucky
-EKU is 9-10 and 1-4 in ASUN play. 
-The Colonels are 8-4 at home ths season and 1-6 in road contests. 
-Eastern Kentucky is coming off its first ASUN win of the season, an 86-72 victory against Lipscomb in which five different players scored in double figures and the Colonels shot 31-for-69 from the floor.
-EKU was selected to finish second in the ASUN by the media and coaches.
-Braxton Beverly and Jomaru Brown were tabbed to the ASUN All-Conference Preseason team.
-The Colonels like to shoot the three-pointer as well, posting 664 three-point field goal attempts, the most by any team in the nation. EKU ranks third in the nation in three-pointers made. 
-Eastern Ky. has done a good job managing turnovers. The Colonels are second in Division I in steals (210), fourth in turnover margin (6.1) and fourth in turnovers forced (18.68).

DRISCOLL CONFIDENTIAL
"We had a really good week of preparation leading up to our first crossover game against an ASUN Western Division opponent. This past week has refined our clarity, both in our scheme and in personnel. We have given ourselves chances and have demonstrated tremendous resolve and fortitude regardless of the challenges or circumstances. At the end of the day against EKU, we need to get shots, limit them from flipping the floor quickly and defend the three-point line with high alert." -- Head Coach Matthew Driscoll

UP NEXT
The Ospreys return to Jacksonville to host Central Arkansas Thursday, Jan. 27 at 8 p.m.

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