Game 25 Preview: vs North Alabama

Thursday, February 8

7 p.m.

University of North Florida

North Alabama

Tickets

2/7/2024 2:00:00 PM | Men's Basketball

Stream Live Stats Tickets Media Guide

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. - North Florida men's basketball turns its focus to a home weekend conference slate after a tough double overtime loss against Austin Peay on the road, as they look to bounce back against North Alabama on Thursday, Feb. 8, 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.

February is upon us and it is separation time across every league in America. Though the next game is always the most important in our program – this time of year is magnified, as the close to the regular season is right around the corner. As we have always done, our 1-0 approach will stay steadfast. North Alabama, like we were in January, comes into UNF Arena to play on CSI Companies Court as the hottest team in ASUN with four consecutive wins. UNA has done it with aggressive, staunch defense and a similar approach on the offensive end attacking the rim and getting to the FT line. UNA has really done a great job in those games as well from the three-point line, especially their forwards, who have made 5+ per game at a 51% clip during its winning streak.

Head Coach Matthew Driscoll

UPCOMING MBB SCHEDULE

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