Starting the Week at Home With UNC Asheville

Monday, November 18

Jacksonville, Fla.

7 p.m.

University of North Florida

UNC Asheville

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Harris scored 23 in his lone home game.

Photo by: Brock Borgeson

11/17/2024 10:09:00 PM | Men's Basketball

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Ospreys Host Bulldogs at 7 p.m. in First Half of a Home-and-Home

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. - North Florida men's basketball gets the chance to return home for consecutive home games beginning with a Monday evening matchup against UNC Asheville from the UNF Arena at 7 p.m.

GAME DETAILS
Who | North Florida vs. UNC Asheville
What | First of Two Final Home Games in November
When | Monday, Nov. 18 at 7 p.m.
Where | UNF Arena | Jacksonville, Fla.
Coverage | Watch on ESPN+

Projected Starters
Sophomore, Guard | Jaylen Smith
Senior, Guard | Oscar Berry
Sophomore, Guard | Jasai Miles
Senior, Guard | Nate Lliteras
Freshman, Forward | Josh Harris

Coach Driscoll on The Upcoming Game
"We're grateful for the opportunity to recover and get rejuvenated at home after playing three road games against Power Four teams in a nine-day span to open the season. The rest coincides with the opportunity to return to the UNF Arena and CSI Companies Court to start a two-game home stand as we lead into the Thanksgiving holiday. We are excited to be at a bustling Nest as our opponent in UNC Asheville brings in a lot of experience and offensive firepower. The Bulldogs are one of the most consistent mid-major programs in the country, while having recent postseason experience with their NCAA Tournament qualification two years ago. All told, they've made four appearances in 14 years to go along with a number of other postseason games, adding to that experience. We expect relentlessness for 40 minutes as they apply pressure for 94 feet and play with a pace that pairs with high-level shooting from deep and at the free throw line." -- Head Coach Matthew Driscoll

Last Time Out
ATHENS, Ga. - Liam Murphy poured in 22 points and four Ospreys (3-1) scored in double figures, but UGA (3-0) was able to produce at the free-throw line as North Florida's three-game winning streak to start the season was snapped.

Nate Lliteras, Josh Harris and Kamrin Oriol joined Murphy in double figures. Despite the loss, UNF tied its best start to begin a season in the program's DI era and during head coach Matthew Driscoll's tenure.

UNF also completes a stretch of four games in eight days after tallying wins at South Carolina, against Charleston Southern and at Georgia Tech.

Murphy the Marksman
Liam Murphy is coming off a 22-point performance at Georgia last Tuesday … the Staten Island, N.Y., native shot 5-for-7 from beyond the arc, serving as UNF's leading scorer while also coming off the bench … Murphy has scored in double figures in all four games this season … he has the second-most three-pointers made in the country as of UNF's last game at Georgia, with the lone person in front having 11 more attempts than Murphy … Murphy has gone 5-for-7 from deep in two games this season.

History at UNF
North Florida's start to the 2024-25 has been a historic one, with the Ospreys earning their first-ever wins against an SEC foe and ACC foe in the same week. UNF's Power Four victories in the opening week matched the program's all-time record for wins against Power Four programs. Thanks to the wins against South Carolina and Georgia Tech, along with a 24-point win against Charleston Southern, North Florida earned 14 votes in the Associated Press Top 25 poll, a first for the Ospreys. North Florida also earned a spot at No. 10 in the CollegeInsider.com Mid-Major Top 25 poll … UNF's 3-0 start is its best to begin a season since 2015-16 … North Florida is the first-ever team to defeat two Power Five teams on the road in opening weekend.

Scouting the Opponent
UNC Asheville enters at 0-2, having lost at Alabama and in a tight-affair against Ohio … the Bulldogs were tabbed to finish fourth in the preseason Big South Coaches Poll … the matchup is the front end of a home-and-home against UNC Asheville this season … head coach Mike Morrell is in his seventh season with the Bulldogs, having tallied a 95-89 record during that span … Asheville is returning 2,685 minutes of 6,875 from last year's squad.

Series History
North Florida and UNC Asheville are meeting for the first time in their respective program's histories … the Ospreys have already faced a Big South opponent in Charleston Southern this season, resulting in a 24-point win for the Ospreys.

Freshman Phenom
Pembroke Pines, Fla., native and freshman, Josh Harris, is coming off a 22-point game at Georgia Tech as well as a 23-point outing in the win against Charleston Southern. His 16.3 points per game scoring average is the highest by any UNF freshman in the program's DI era through three games. He also broke the 20-point marker ahead of any previous UNF freshman during that era. His 23-point game against Charleston Southern was the most by a UNF freshman since Wajid Aminu had 24 in 2016.

The Familiar Faces
North Florida men's basketball returns five players, all of which started the majority of last year's games or have been a starter throughout their collegiate career … Nate Lliteras started the most games among all returners, tallying 31 starts in 31 contests while averaging 10.4 points per game, the most among returning players … Jaylen Smith was thrust into the starting point guard position last year after junior guard Ametri Moss suffered a season-ending injury at the start of league play … the lefty guard out of Ocoee, Fla., went on to earn all-freshman honors from the conference … Oscar Berry is the most veteran Osprey in the Navy and Gray this year, having played two years with UNF after starting out his collegiate career at Fairleigh-Dickinson … after making his first collegiate start not far from home in Coral Gables last December, now-sophomore Jasai Miles returns after making 19 starts and averaging 5.7 points per game.

Rundown on the Newcomers
UNF's roster features eight newcomers, not including redshirt-freshman Mason Lee who sat last year out after joining UNF from nearby Providence School of Jacksonville … four are true freshmen, including Josh Harris, Arden Begaj, Taylor Thompson and Dante Oliver … the other four newcomers bring in significant experience as transfers, two of which have already earned degrees in Liam Murphy and Nestor Dyachok … Murphy put up 12 points and seven boards a game at Columbia as a freshman, while Dyachok scored over nine points per game for Southern Utah … Alex Vargo joins the Ospreys by way of Garrett College, scoring over 26 points per game while lighting up Southern Maryland for 47 in a single contest … he started his collegiate career at Youngstown State after scoring 1,634 points at Wheeling Park HS … sharpshooter Kamrin Oriol comes back to his home state of Florida after earning league freshman of the year honors in 2022-23 … he was named conference player of the week once last season.