JACKSONVILLE, Fla. - North Florida men's basketball enters its third consecutive game at home with a crucial mid-major non-conference showdown against Georgia Southern on Saturday, Dec. 9, at 2 p.m., in UNF Arena.

The Ospreys are coming off a dominant 99-47 win against Edward Waters to break a three-game losing streak during its home stand. With two games left on deck at UNF Arena before the holiday, UNF is looking to gain momentum before its run of three guarantee games before conference play.

Follow along @OspreyMBB on X and @ospreysmbb on Instagram from in-game updates. A live stream on ESPN+ will also be available, as well as live stats on sidearmstats.com.

GAME DETAILS

Date: Saturday, Dec. 9
Time: 2 p.m.
Location: UNF Arena
Opponent: Georgia Southern

All-Time Series

• UNF leads, 2-0, in the all-time series.
• Last matchup was a three-point home win in 2019.
• Also played on neutral site in MTE at Las Vegas, Nev.
• Ospreys have sights on back-to-back home wins.

An Osprey Win Would...

• Hand Georgia Southern its ninth straight loss to start the season.
• Extend the all-time record against the Eagles to 3-0.
• Give UNF a stellar 5-2 record at home on the year.

PROJECTED UNF STARTING FIVE

G - Ametri Moss
G - Oscar Berry
G - Chaz Lanier
F - Nate Lliteras
F - Dorian James

COACH DRISCOLL ON TOMORROW'S GAME

"How we do anything is how you do everything, which has a direct correlation between efficiency and results in all three phases of the game – defense, offense and special situations. We have slowly, but surely, continued to improve in so many aspects of our system that it has started to look smoother and rhythmic.

If you are an athlete and you look at records to determine your focus, you aren't going to be successful on the court or in life. Georgia Southern has played a very difficult schedule, including only one home game and several games being determined in last minute of their contests. They shoot as many threes as we do and attack the rim with vengeance. Their philosophy is identical to our standard of layups, dunks, and threes."
-- head coach Matthew Driscoll

SCOUTING GEORGIA SOUTHERN

• The Eagles hold a record of 0-8 with five of those losses coming on the road, as well as two on a neutral site.
• Their first home game of the year was a two-point loss to Jacksonville this past Saturday, Dec. 2.
• JU and fellow ASUN opponent, Kennesaw State, were the only two games that finished within single digits for the Eagles.
• Charlie Henry is in his first season as the head coach of Georgia Southern after four seasons as an assistant at Alabama.
• Three players average just over double-digits in scoring headlined by Tyren Moore at 12.1 PPG.
• Moore is dangerous from beyond the arc with 15 made three-pointers and a 38.5 3PT%.
• He also has made 33 field goals through eight games, as well as five starts, shooting 48.5% from the field.
• Avantae Parker and Eugene Brown III both have marks at just over five RPG, including 3.0 DRPG.

LOOKING AHEAD

North Florida finishes up its four-game home stand with a week-long break returning next week against Trinity Baptist on Saturday, Dec. 16, with tip-off set for 2 p.m., at UNF Arena.

NORTH FLORIDA NOTES

THE 2023-24 SCHEDULE
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

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

ROSTER TIDBITS
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. Smith 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.