HOOP SCOOP: Men's Basketball Plays Two in Alabama

Thursday, February 3

Jacksonville, Ala.

8:30 p.m. (EST)

University of North Florida

Jacksonville State

unf men's basketball preview graphic with una and jsu logos next to a pic of Jonathan Aybar

2/2/2022 8:57:00 PM | Men's Basketball

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Ospreys Go to Jacksonville State Thursday, North Alabama Saturday

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. -- North Florida men's basketball commences the second half of ASUN play with two more games against ASUN West Division competition. UNF goes to Jacksonville State Thursday to face the last remaining undefeated team in conference play. The Ospreys close out the stint in Alabama against North Alabama in Florence.

LAST TIME OUT (vs. Lipscomb Jan. 29)

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. - Both teams made plays and tasted a lead for a good portion of the game, but visiting Lipscomb (10-13, 3-5 ASUN) held off UNF men's basketball, 77-74, Saturday night from the UNF Arena.

PROJECTED STARTERS
G - Jarius Hicklen (10.5 PPG | 2.2 RPG | 1.4 APG)
G - Carter Hendricksen (11.8 PPG | 4.8 RPG | 1.6 APG)
G - Jose Placer (14.3 PPG | 3.2 RPG | 2.9 APG)
F - Dorian James (4.7 PPG | 4.3 RPG | 1.0 BPG)
F - Jadyn Parker (7.7 PPG | 5.2 RPG | 1.6 BPG)

SERIES HISTORY
JACKSONVILLE STATE | UNF and Jacksonville State are meeting for the second time in series history and the first time as ASUN foes ... North Florida and JSU previously met in November of 2018 at the Cancun Challenge ... JT Escobar scored 24 and UNF drilled 14 three-pointers, but the Gamecocks got the win, 83-78.
NORTH ALABAMA | North Florida and North Alabama are playing for the ninth time ... UNA and UNF have faced off eight times since the Lions joined the league ... UNF and UNA first met Jan. 5, 2019, with UNF winning by 29 points ... UNA won the last meeting by eight in the ASUN Championship Quarterfinals last March ... UNF leads the all-time series, 6-2 ... the Ospreys are 2-0 in Florence.

FROM THE JUMP

CAREER DAYS
Carter Hendricksen is coming off a 26-point game against Lipscomb, going 9-21 and 7-8 from the line to post a career high in points.

FLY SWATTER
UNF blocked 10 shots against Lipscomb, good for tied for the second most in a single game in UNF history.

HANDS UP
UNF has gotten a hand on 103 shots, good for 31st in the country and first in the ASUN. North Florida's 4.7 blocks/game paces the league.

SHINING STORY
Division II transfer Jarius Hicklen has proven to be one of the best scorers in the lineup. The Dec. 13 ASUN Newcomer of the Week is averaging 10.5 points per game and has scored in double digits in five consecutive games. He put up 27 points at Florida State and scored 24 in a win against Central Arkansas.

SCOUTING REPORT | Jacksonville State
-Jacksonville State is coming off a key road win at ASUN East Division-leading Liberty.
-The Gamecocks are 15-6 and tout a league-best 8-0 mark.
-JSU is 7-1 at home this season, with its last loss at home coming against South Alabama Dec. 4.
-The Gamecocks went into Lynchburg and downed the Flames by 10 Jan. 29, snapping Liberty's 45-game home winning streak.
-Jacksonville State paces the league in three-point field goal percentage at 41.2 percent, good for second in the entire nation.
-Demaree King is a big reason for JSU's success from the outside, shooting 48.9 percent from long range, good for third in Division I.
-Jacksonville State is one of the most experienced teams in the nation, touting the 42nd-most experienced roster in the country.

SCOUTING REPORT | North Alabama
-North Alabama is 9-12 and 2-6 in league play.
-UNA is 6-2 at home this season, although UNA lost its last contest at home to Stetson, 67-65, Jan. 22.
-The Lions have picked up conference wins against Eastern Kentucky and Kennesaw State.
-North Alabama's scoring is led by Daniel Ortiz and Jamari Blackmon, both of which are averaging in double-digits.
-The Lions are missing two big pieces down low from last year's team in Emanuel Littles and Mervin James.

DRISCOLL CONFIDENTIAL
"The ASUN Conference has always favored teams with experience during our program's time in the league. That is something this group continues to gain night in and night out as we battle for 40 minutes, realizing that perseverance and resolve will eventually win. This trip marks the fourth time in nine games we are playing a first place team, a challenge we face once again going up against Jacksonville State before playing another opponent who is improving and getting healthy in North Alabama. We are excited to compete again after another great week of practice." -- Head Coach Matthew Driscoll

UP NEXT
UNF comes back home for a midweek affair against Bellarmine Wednesday, Feb. 9 at 7 p.m., completing ASUN West Division play for the regular season.

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