JACKSONVILLE, Fla. - North Florida men's basketball begins the second half of league play with the final game of January as the Ospreys face North Alabama in Florence, Ala., Saturday night.

It's the 10th meeting between these two teams since the Lions joined the conference prior to the 2018-19 season. The Ospreys look to improve to 8-2 against UNA while aiming for their fourth-straight win at Flowers Hall.

GAME DETAILS
Date: Saturday, Jan. 28
Time: 6 p.m. (EST)
Location: Flowers Hall | Florence, Ala.
Opponent: North Alabama
Watch: ESPN+
Live Stats: statbroadcast.com
 
All-Time Series: UNF leads, 7-2

• UNF has won each meeting at North Alabama, going 3-0 on the road against UNA
• It's the 10th meeting in just over four years between these two teams
• The Ospreys got over 40 points and nine threes from the combined efforts of Jarius Hicklen and Jose Placer a year ago in a 13-point win at UNA

An Osprey Win Would....

• Make UNF 8-2 against North Alabama
• Bring the Ospreys their first road league win of the season
• Give the Ospreys a 4-0 mark at UNA

PROJECTED UNF STARTING FIVE
G - Oscar Berry (4.7 PPG | 2.0 RPG | 0.7 APG)
G - Jarius Hicklen (12.0 PPG | 3.5 RPG | 2.9 APG)
G - Jose Placer (13.1 PPG | 2.4 RPG | 2.5 APG)
F - Carter Hendricksen (16.3 | 6.4 RPG | 2.0 APG)
F - Jadyn Parker (6.2 PPG | 4.9 RPG | 1.7 BPG)

LAST TIME OUT
CONWAY, Ark. - Carter Hendricksen continued his tear through ASUN play, posting 32 points and 11 boards, but Central Arkansas' late-game surge proved costly for the Ospreys as UNF was clipped in overtime, 88-85, Thursday, Jan. 26. UNF (8-13, 3-6 ASUN) held the lead for over 30 minutes of the 45 played, although the Bears (7-15, 2-7 ASUN) didn't relent, overcoming what was a double-digit UNF advantage.

LAST TIME VS. UNA
FLORENCE, Ala. - For the second time in as many games during the Alabama road trip, North Florida men's basketball (7-17, 3-7 ASUN) applied the winning formula of sizzling shooting and stifling defense as the Ospreys took care of North Alabama (9-14, 2-8 ASUN), 71-58, Saturday, Feb. 5.

COACH DRISCOLL ON TOMORROW'S GAME  
"Have we mentioned that the league has parity?! We continue to put ourselves in position to be successful, however we haven't been able to finish off games on far too many occasions. North Alabama has won three games in a row and have a lot of confidence and energy heading into Saturday's tip-off. UNA has very dynamic guards that are always in attack mode, putting non-stop pressure on our defense." -- head coach Matthew Driscoll
 

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NORTH FLORIDA NOTES

800 GAMES IN A ROW 
With Thursday's game at Central Arkansas, the Ospreys have made a three-pointer in 800-straight games dating all the way back to 1996. 

HOT AS THE 'A'SUN
Carter Hendricksen went for a 32-point and 11-board rebound double-double Thursday at Central Arkansas, his third double-double this year and 10th at UNF. He has eclipsed 30 points twice in the last week and is averaging just under 20 points per game in league play.

RIM PROTECTOR 
Jadyn Parker went for four blocks at Central Arkansas, bringing him to 95 for his career. The forward has tallied a multi-block game on 10 instances this season. He ranks second in the ASUN at 1.7 blocks per game this season.

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 its eight wins when tallying at least 80 points. Three of those wins have seen the Ospreys reaching 90 points.

TO THE WIRE
North Florida has played seven games determined by five points or less this year, going 4-3 in such contests. The Ospreys are 58-46 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 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 - 1,482), field goals made (8th - 480), field goals attempted (2nd - 1,214), three-pointers made (5th - 247), three-pointers attempted (3rd - 722), free throws made (6th - 275), free throw percentage (7th - .821), rebounds (4th - 683), rebounding average (5.5 - 10th), defensive rebounds (2nd - 552), defensive rebound average (5th - 4.4), games played (8th - 125) and minutes (5th - 3,349). He is also just 18 points short of 1,500.

HISTORIC GROUP
After last weekend, 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. 
 

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SCOUTING UNA

• North Alabama is 12-10 and 4-5 in league play, riding a three-game winning streak that has included wins against Jacksonville and two against UCA
• The Lions' biggest win of the year came in a one-point victory against Ole Miss Dec. 20. Guard Daniel Ortiz went for 22 points and six three-pointers in the win
• The Lions enter play 6-2 in games at home
• Head coach Tony Pujol is in his fifth season at UNA. The Lions advanced to the ASUN Championship finals back in the spring of 2021, falling to Liberty in a game played at the UNF Arena
• Former Lipscomb guard KJ Johnson has made a positive impact on UNA, posting 11.8 points per game and 3.3 assists per contest
• Chicago native Jacari Lane is shooting 56.7 percent and averaging 11.1 points per game
• UNA likes to get going in transition, averaging 12.09 transition buckets per game, the second-most in the league
• North Alabama is coming off a big win against Jacksonville Thursday. UNA went 18-for-19 from the line in the win

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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 167-39 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.

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.