JACKSONVILLE, Fla. - UNF men's basketball begins a two-game road stint at Central Arkansas Thursday, Jan. 26, marking the halfway point in league play as the Ospreys play game number nine in ASUN competition for the regular season.

Tomorrow's game is just the second in series history and the first-ever game UNF will play at UCA. This is also just the third-ever game UNF is playing in the state of Arkansas during its DI tenure.

Viewers can expect to see a lot of three-point attempts and makes in Thursday's game, with both squads entering play in the top 20 in the nation for three-pointers attempted per contest.

GAME DETAILS
Date: Thursday, Jan. 26
Time: 8 p.m. (EST)
Location: Farris Center
Opponent: Central Arkansas
Watch: ESPN+
Live Stats: www.ucasports.com/sidearmstats/mbball/summary
 
All-Time Series: UNF leads, 1-0

• North Florida and UCA are playing for just the second time
• It's the first game UNF is playing at Central Arkansas
• North Florida put up 55 points in the second half to down UCA by 19 last January, almost a year ago to the day

An Osprey Win Would....

• Bring UNF to a 2-0 record against UCA
• Give UNF its first league road victory of the season
• Give the Ospreys their first dub in Arkansas

PROJECTED UNF STARTING FIVE
G - Oscar Berry (4.5 PPG | 1.9 RPG | 0.7 APG)
G - Jarius Hicklen (12.5 | 3.6 RPG | 3.0 APG)
G - Jose Placer (13.1 PPG | 2.5 RPG | 2.5 APG)
F - Carter Hendricksen (15.5 | 6.2 RPG | 2.1 APG)
F - Jadyn Parker (6.2 PPG | 4.9 RPG | 0.2 BPG)

LAST TIME OUT
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. - North Florida men's basketball had its eyes on staying undefeated at home against Liberty as well as its 10th-straight win at home, but the Flames' (16-5, 7-1 ASUN) second half push got in the way as the Ospreys (8-12, 3-5 ASUN) dropped Saturday's game, 73-62.

LAST TIME VS. UCA
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. - Behind 55 points in the second half, 14 three-pointers for the game, 20 assists and eight blocked shots on the defensive end, North Florida men's basketball (5-16, 1-6 ASUN) ran away with a 93-74 victory against Central Arkansas (6-13, 3-3 ASUN) Thursday, Jan. 27 from the UNF Arena.

COACH DRISCOLL ON TOMORROW'S GAME  
"Throughout the season and leading up to Thursday we have continued to uplift our prayers and thoughts for Coach Boone, head coach at Central Arkansas, during his recovery from heart surgery. We have found ourselves in a difficult quandary at the halfway point of ASUN regular season play, however our drive and mission remains the same as we strive to go 1-0 with the Bears being the next game on our schedule. Like many teams in our league, UCA shoots a lot of three-pointers. With their size they also have the ability to switch at all five positions defensively, making them a unique challenge on both sides of the ball." -- Head Coach Matthew Driscoll
 

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NORTH FLORIDA NOTES

HIGH LEVERAGE BUCKETS
All three of UNF's ASUN wins have come thanks to a game-winning bucket or free throw made with under one minute to go in the game. One of those, against Austin Peay, sent the game to OT as the Ospreys won.

PUSH THE ENVELOPE
North Florida has posted seven of eight wins when tallying at least 80 points. Three of those wins have seen the Ospreys reaching 90 points.

COOL UNDER PRESSURE
North Florida has played six games determined by five points or less this year, going 4-2 in such contests. The Ospreys are 58-45 under head coach Matthew Driscoll in such games, and 3-0 in such home games this season.

ALL OVER THE RECORD BOOK
Carter Hendricksen was already all over the UNF record book quite a bit heading into the season, although the last few weeks have really sent him all throughout the ledger. Hendricksen ranks in the top ten in: points (5th - 1,450), field goals made (8th - 472), field goals attempted (2nd - 1,199), three-pointers made (5th - 242), three-pointers attempted (3rd - 713), free throws made (8th - 264), free throw percentage (7th - .822), rebounds (5th - 672), rebounding average (5.4 - 10th), defensive rebounds (2nd - 544), defensive rebound average (5th - 4.4), games played (T-8th - 124) and minutes (5th - 3,312)

HISTORIC GROUP
Recently, Carter Hendricksen surpassed 200-career assists, becoming just the fourth Osprey to ever reach the 1,000-point, 500-rebound and 200-assist club. The forward joins Chris Davenport, Garrett Sams and Jamaal Williams. 

35 PIECE DOUBLE-DOUBLE
Carter Hendricksen posted one of the best games to date by a UNF player, going off for a career-best 35 points and 10 rebounds in the 95-90 win against Queens Thursday. The forward posted the most points by an Osprey since teammate Jose Placer had 35 in a win against Austin Peay Dec. 11, 2021.

PERSEVERE
UNF came back from an 11-point deficit early on in the first half against Queens last Thursday. That deficit marked UNF's largest deficit in a win this season.

DRISCOLL CLIMBS THE RANKS
Head Coach Matthew Driscoll earned his 211th win as an ASUN head coach with the win last Thursday, passing former head coach at Georgia Southern, Frank Kerns, good for second in league history.
 

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SCOUTING UCA

• Central Arkansas is 6-15 and 1-7 in ASUN play
• The Bears are 4-4 at home and 1-10 on the road
• The Bears are coming off three-straight losses, two of which have come against UNA and the other a 20-point loss at Liberty
• UCA had a depleted roster in its last game, missing leading scorer Camren Hunter and a host of other Bears in a 16--point loss at UNA
• Head coach Anthony Boone has missed a significant part of the season this season due to medical concerns. Assistant coach Brock Widders has assumed the interim duties during his absence
• Hunter is the straw that stirs the UCA offense, coming off ASUN Freshman of the Year honors last year after starting all 30 games in which he played
• The lefty paces the team with 17.3 points per game while reeling in 5.2 boards per contest in 33.8 minutes of output per contest
• Eddy Kayouloud and Collin Cooper are also averaging double-digit points each game
• UCA's lone ASUN win came in a 92-921 win at Queens Jan. 12

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OTHER NOTES

LEADING LATE
UNF has fared very well under head coach Matthew Driscoll when possessing a lead with under five minutes to go in the game. Under Driscoll, North Florida is 182-16 when leading with five minutes to go on the clock.

TELL-TALE STATS
UNF has established a few tell-tale stats that have given a hint of a positive outcome for the Ospreys during head coach Matthew Driscoll's tenure. UNF is 167-38 when leading at the half, 182-16 when leading with five minutes left, 86-8 when holding foes under 40 percent from the floor and 176-34 when shooting better than its opponent.

STRENGTH OF SCHEDULE
The Ospreys have played one of the toughest schedules in the nation, having already played opponents such as No. 2 Gonzaga, Washington, Duquesne, No. 15 Kentucky, High Point, No. 1 Houston and Pittsburgh.

DOWN TO THE WIRE
UNF has played its fair share of tight contests this season, with nine games being within three points with five minutes remaining. North Florida has seen such contests at Washington, Duquesne, High Point, SC State, Bethune-Cookman, Austin Peay, Stetson and Kennesaw State

PRESEASON ALL-ASUN 

• Jose Placer and Carter Hendricksen were both tabbed to the All-ASUN Preseason team. 
• UNF joined Liberty as the only two teams in the ASUN Conference to have two honorees on the preseason squad.

RETURNING MINUTES AND POINTS

• After having one of the youngest teams in the nation last year, North Florida returns as a veteran team. 
• The Ospreys bring back 81 percent of their scoring and 74 percent of minutes played from last season. 
• All told, UNF has nine returners and four newcomers, with five of the nine returners being regular starters last season.

AWARDS AND HONORS IN 2021-22

•  Jose Placer and Carter Hendricksen both took home ASUN All-Academic honors to close the 2022 season. For Hendricksen, it was his third-career honor. 
• Hendricksen also joined former teammate, Wajid Aminu, as a CoSIDA Academic All-District honoree a year ago. Despite battling injury during the 2021-22 season, Hendricksen still managed to average 12.2 points per game and 5.0 rebounds per contest, bringing him past 1,000-career points and 500-career rebounds.
• Shooting guard Jarius Hicklen put the ASUN on notice last year, averaging 12 points per game over 30 games and 15 starts. Initially not starting at the beginning of the 2021-22 season, Hicklen's consistency, combined with some injuries on the UNF roster, brought him into a starting role that he did not let go of. The Dallas, Texas native was named ASUN Newcomer of the Week and ASUN Player of the Week one time apiece last year. He started his collegiate career with two seasons of basketball at Division II Oklahoma Baptist before transferring to North Florida. 

LOOKING AT THE 2022-23 SEASON

• UNF is set to play 30 regular season games including 13 at home. The Ospreys play a 13-game non-conference ledger, with 18 league games lined up as the ASUN expanded to 14 teams.
• The Ospreys will play seven first-time opponents in Gonzaga, Washington, South Carolina State, Houston, Duquesne, Davis & Elkins and Atlantis.
• UNF also has Pittsburgh and Kentucky on the schedule for this year, marking the second-straight year UNF has taken on Kentucky.

CSI COMPANIES COURT

• North Florida men's basketball practiced away from its home court for all of the summer and much of the preseason as the UNF Arena was undergoing renovations that included the construction of the new CSI Companies Court. UNF didn't practice in its home gym until Oct. 24 and instead practiced at the UNF Fieldhouse adjacent to the gym, or at the Florida State College of Jacksonville (community college) across the street from campus. 
• The CSI Companies Court features a gray and navy look, with the state of Florida and UNF banner logo donning the center of the floor. UNF's location in Jacksonville is emphasized with a star located on the floor, while Osprey talons mark the sidelines. 
• The UNF Arena was also renovated with brand new lighting and sound system, as well as other aesthetic touch ups. The Bank of England Hospitality Suite is also nearing completion, providing a premier experience for donors.

NOTABLE

• Head coach Matthew Driscoll picked up his 200th-career win last year. He is the winningest coach in program history. 
• UNF had arguably the best blocking trio in the league last year, with three student-athletes averaging at least 0.9 blocks/game. Jadyn Parker led the way with 1.6, Dorian James swatted 1.1 per game and Jonathan Aybar blocked 0.9 shots per contest. Parker set the UNF single game blocks record with nine last season at Stetson.
• No stranger to tough schedules, UNF opened the year last year with a stretch of games against Texas Tech, Texas A&M, Grand Canyon, Arizona State and UCLA before playing a home game. The Ospreys played one home game before going back on the road to take on Kentucky.