JACKSONVILLE, Fla. -  For the first time since 2012, North Florida men's basketball opens the season at home as the Ospreys host Coastal Georgia at 7 p.m. from the UNF Arena Monday, Nov. 6.

GAME DETAILS
Date: Monday, Nov. 6
Time: 7 p.m.
Location: UNF Arena
Opponent: Coastal Georgia
Watch: ESPN+
Live Stats: sidearmstats.com
 
All-Time Series: UNF leads the series, 1-0

• North Florida won the only meeting against Coastal Georgia
• The Ospreys dominated in that contest, winning 117-71
• That mark set a UNF DI era single game team points record
• UNF Hall of Famer Demarcus Daniels was the leading scorer in that contest, going for 20 points as one of six Ospreys in double figures

An Osprey Win Would....
Make UNF 2-0 all-time against Coastal Georgia
Make UNF undefeated in season openers played at home under head coach Matthew Driscoll

PROJECTED UNF STARTING FIVE
G - Oscar Berry
G - Chaz Lanier
G - Ametri Moss
F - Dorian James
F - Nate Lliteras

COACH DRISCOLL ON TOMORROW'S GAME  
"It seems like yesterday that our newly assembled team was headed to Costa Rica for an amazing foreign tour in August. Now, tomorrow is the start of year 15 in the staff's tenure and our program's first home game to open a season in over a decade. Getting the chance to start the season at home and play in front of Osprey Nation is so uplifting for our student-athletes. As a team we're looking forward to competing, being attentive to developing cohesion and playing with joy, qualities that resonate in a confident locker room." -- Head Coach Matthew Driscoll


NORTH FLORIDA NOTES

HOME TO START THE SEASON

• For the first time in over a decade, North Florida men's basketball plays the season opener at home. 
• The last time North Florida began the year at The Nest was Nov. 10, 2012 against Edward Waters.

16 HOME GAMES

• North Florida's 16-game home slate is good for the most home games in UNF's Division I era. 
• North Florida plays eight non-conference home games and eight Atlantic Sun games at home. The Ospreys also host the First Coast Classic Nov. 16-18.

SCORE AT WILL

• The Ospreys unloaded for a 46-point margin of victory in the only meeting between North Florida and Coastal Georgia. The Osprey scored 117 points Dec. 12, 2015, setting a program record for the most team points scored in a game during UNF's DI era.

THE 2023-24 SCHEDULE - NOTES

• 31 games, 16 at home
• Games in two time zones (EST, CST)
• Home and season opener Nov. 6 vs. Coastal Georgia
• Road opener at Charleston Southern Nov. 9
• First Coast Classic Multi-team event (MTE) Nov. 16-18 at the UNF Arena
• Four first time foes (Presbyterian, Northwestern State, Maine, Georgia)
• Takes on teams from 12 different leagues
• First time facing a Big Ten team since going to Iowa Nov. 21, 2019
• Going to Queens for the first time in program history
• Senior Night set for the lone regular season game in March, March 1 vs. Stetson
• Four-game home stand between Dec. 2 and Dec. 16
• UNF plays four games against 2023 NCAA Tourney Team

ROSTER NOTES

• North Florida's 2023-24 roster features 13 Ospreys, with seven letterwinners returning.
• The Ospreys' roster also includes six newcomers, with three being true freshmen and three being transfers.
• All three transfers were significant contributors for their previous teams. Nate Lliteras comes to UNF as a junior athletically, having helped Longwood to the NCAA Tournament with a Big South Championship title. Lliteras logged 85 games for the Lancers, having tallied 90 three-pointers and 11 double-digit scoring performances.
• Jake van der Heijden comes to the Ospreys as a graduate transfer after playing in 95 games at Bucknell in Lewisburg, Pa. The rangy lefty logged 1,574 minutes and over 300 points and 200 rebounds.
• Shifty and agile lefty point guard Ametri Moss comes to the Ospreys after two seasons of averaging double-digit points at South Florida State College.
• The UNF freshman features Mason Lee, Jaylen Smith and Jasai Miles. Lee arrives from just down the road at Providence HS, whileSmith is a highly touted guard out of Ocoee, Fla. Miles is a product of Miami, bringing 6-6 size to UNF.
• Dorian James, Chaz Lanier and Oscar Berry comprise the most amount of experience among UNF returners. James has logged 110 games played in the Navy and Gray, while Berry was an all-freshman pick at FDU in 2021-22 and Lanier touting 72 games played in three seasons.
• Returners Brandon Rasmussen, Max Hrdlicka, Jah Nze and Trent Coleman round out the roster, all bringing in at least one letter of experience in the Navy and Gray

SCOUTING COASTAL GEORGIA

• Coastal Georgia has already played three games, going 2-1 thus far
• The Mariners compete in the Sun Conference as an NAIA member
• Coastal Georgia defeated Middle Georgia State and Dalton State, while falling to William Carey
• Nick Jiles paces a team that features four averaging double-digit points, putting up 18.7 points per game. 
• The Mariners have brought down 28 boards per game, while foes have averaged 24.7 rebounds 
• Kaden McArthur has done a bit of everything so far, pacing the team in rebounding and assists at 6.3 and 5.3 per game respectively
• Head coach Jesse Watkins is in his ninth season at the helm of the program
• Coastal Georgia went 6-19 a year ago and 4-12 in league play