Game 19 Preview: vs Kennesaw State

Thursday, January 18

7 p.m.

University of North Florida

Kennesaw State

Tickets

1/17/2024 3:30:00 PM | Men's Basketball

Stream Live Stats Tickets Media Guide

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. - North Florida men's basketball looks to carry its momentum from a rivalry win in the River City Rumble into another home conference matchup against Kennesaw State on Thursday, Jan. 18, with tip-off set for 7 p.m., at UNF Arena.

Follow along @OspreyMBB on X/Twitter 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.

Countdown to Tip-Off

at UNF Arena

Days

Hours

Mins

Secs

G - Jaylen Smith

G - Chaz Lanier

G - Jasai Miles

F - Nate Lliteras

F - Dorian James

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 Teams

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.

It's so awesome to be home again at CSI Companies Court after nearly a month and five straight road games before the JU game last week. It certainly allowed our guys the opportunity to be at UNF Arena for three straight ASUN contests. It's been game after game in the early regular season. Kennesaw State presents another challenge from so many aspects starting with the fastest tempo in NCAA college basketball. This allows them to really put pressure on your defense with strike-backs and transition taking the first available shot possible. Like us, they will take a high level of three-pointers as well. A lot of times, their early offense ignites from their stout defense, which ranks at the top of the ASUN.

Head Coach Matthew Driscoll

UPCOMING MBB SCHEDULE

NEXT FOUR GAMES

Oct 29, 2025 at 7 p.m.

Men's Basketball vs

Warner

Nov 6, 2025 at 8 p.m.

Men's Basketball at

No. 3 Florida

Nov 12, 2025 at 7 p.m.

Men's Basketball at

No. 18 Tennessee

Nov 15, 2025 at 2 p.m.

Men's Basketball vs

New College of Florida

Next Event

Kennesaw State

W, 84-75

Jan 18 (Thu)

7 p.m.

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Full Schedule

NORTH FLORIDA MEN'S BASKETBALL | BOOT CAMP EXTENDED CUT

Wednesday, October 01

Men's Basketball Post Game Presser vs UNC Greensboro

Sunday, December 15

Coach Driscoll Postgame Interview at Georgia Tech

Monday, November 11

River City Rumble Cinematic Recap

Tuesday, January 16