JACKSONVILLE, Fla. -- North Florida men's basketball closes out the first half of ASUN Conference competition with a pair of home games. The Ospreys host Central Arkansas Thursday and Lipscomb Saturday. 

Thursday's game with the Bears is set for 8 p.m., an adjusted game time from the previously marked 7 p.m. tip-off set at the start of the year.
 

LAST TIME OUT

RICHMOND, Ky. - Jose Placer scored 18 points on 7-of-13 shooting in his return to the starting lineup and Dorian James eyed a double-double, but North Florida couldn't crack an Eastern Kentucky (10-10, 2-4 ASUN) team Saturday night in a 67-58 loss to the Colonels.

PROJECTED STARTERS
G - Jarius Hicklen (9.7 PPG | 2.2 RPG | 1.3 APG)
G - Carter Hendricksen (11.0 PPG | 4.5 RPG | 1.6 APG)
G - Jose Placer (13.2 PPG | 3.2 RPG | 2.8 APG)
F - Dorian James (4.9 PPG | 4.4 RPG | 1.3 APG)
F - Jadyn Parker (8.0 PPG | 4.9 RPG | 0.5 APG)

SERIES HISTORY
-UNF and UCA are meeting for the first time.
-The Ospreys and Bisons are going head-to-head for the 35th time. 
-North Florida and Lipscomb first met Jan. 9, 2006 in UNF's first year in the ASUN Conference. 
-UNF is 10-6 against Lipscomb when hosting the Bisons.
-North Florida is 2-3 against Lipscomb over the last five meetings.

FROM THE JUMP

FIRST TIME
UNF and UCA are meeting for the first time, and the first time as ASUN foes. North Florida will face Bellarmine Feb. 9 in another first-time meeting between UNF and an ASUN newcomer.

4-for-4
Jarius Hicklen has started four times this season, notching double-digit scoring in all four contests. This includes a 27-point game at Florida State.

ALL-TIME
Jose Placer scored 18 to lead UNF at EKU. He's averaging 14.0 ppg for his career, sixth-best in UNF history.
  
PASSING UP FELLOW OSPREYS
Carter Hendricksen is six points shy of passing former teammate JT Escobar for 15th in UNF history for points. He's eight three-pointers attempted short of passing former teammate Ivan Gandia-Rosa for seventh all-time in UNF history.

SCOUTING REPORT | Central Arkansas
-UCA is coming into play 6-12 and 3-2 in its first five games as an ASUN squad. 
-The Bears are coming off a five-point loss to ASUN West Division leading Jacksonville State Jan. 18. 
-Central Arkansas defeated UNA in overtime, Lipscomb by five and EKU by seven in its three ASUN wins.
-UCA is averaging 81 points per game in five conference games, while shooting 47.4 percent from the floor.
-Darious Hall posted 20 points in the team's last game against Jacksonville State, a contest that featured 24 lead changes and 11 tie scores.

SCOUTING REPORT | Lipscomb
-Lipscomb is 9-12 overall and 2-4 in the ASUN this year. 
-The Bisons are 6-3 at home but just 1-9 on the road. 
-Lipscomb is coming off a four-point win against Kennesaw State Saturday, Jan. 22. 
-A staple for Lipscomb, Ahsan Asadullah leads the squad with 16 points and 8.2 boards per game. 
-Jacob Ognacevic is posting 15.2 points per game while shooting 51 percent from three-point range.
-Lipscomb makes a stop at JU Thursday before coming to UNF Saturday.

DRISCOLL CONFIDENTIAL
"Our team has had amazing resolve and energy during this week in preparation for our two game home stand, knowing that Central Arkansas is the most important game because it's the next one on the schedule. We have really continued to build our defensive acuity, while working to sharpen our execution of offensive opportunities. However, its critical to have that transfer of learning arrive when the lights are brightest for our 8 p.m. tip-off on Thursday." -- Head Coach Matthew Driscoll

UP NEXT
North Florida takes to Alabama for a pair of games. The Ospreys go to Jacksonville State Thursday, Feb. 3 and North Alabama Saturday, Feb. 5.

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