Seeking another milestone win, North Florida faces Georgia Tech

Field Level Media|published: Sat 9th November, 23:42 2024

NCAA Basketball: North Florida at Miami (FL)

Dec 29, 2023; Coral Gables, Florida, USA; North Florida Ospreys head coach Matthew Driscoll reacts from the sideline against the Miami Hurricanes during the first half at Watsco Center. Mandatory Credit: Sam Navarro-Imagn Images

North Florida aims for another win against an opponent from a major conference when it travels to play Atlantic Coast Conference member Georgia Tech on Sunday in Atlanta.

North Florida (2-0), of the Atlantic Sun Conference, earned the program's first victory over a team from the Southeastern Conference with an opening-night, 74-71 win at South Carolina on Monday. The Ospreys then pounded Charleston Southern 90-66 at home on Thursday.

"Guys really stepped up," North Florida coach Matthew Driscoll said after the win over the Gamecocks. "A lot of big shots. Guys made huge plays, huge rebounds, huge defensive stops and really, really proud of our spirit and what we did as (a) unit. It takes a village to do these kinds of things and I think our guys are continuing to grow."

Jaylen Smith, part of last season's ASUN All-Freshman Team, led the Ospreys with 16 points in the win over South Carolina, then had 11 against Charleston Southern. Freshman Josh Harris had 23 points and eight rebounds against the latter.

Graduate transfer Liam Murphy has recovered from a torn labrum that cost him the entire 2023-24 season and is averaging 16.5 points through the first two games of the campaign.

North Florida is 0-19 against teams currently in the ACC. It has never faced Georgia Tech.

Georgia Tech had little trouble against ASUN opponent West Georgia in its season opener, winning 85-62 on Wednesday. It was the largest margin of victory for the Yellow Jackets (1-0) since Damon Stoudamire became coach a season ago.

"I think what I'm trying to find out, see guys get better, see the group get better as a unit, but then just keep finding guys that I can trust," Stoudamire said. "We just gotta keep building brick by brick. And our trajectory just gotta keep going in the right direction."

Newcomer Javian McCollum scored 18 points on Wednesday to surpass the 1,000-point mark for his career. He was Oklahoma's leading scorer last season. Returners Kowacie Reeves Jr. and Baye Ndongo had 15 and 10 points, respectively, in the win. Ndongo also had seven rebounds.

--Field Level Media