JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – The Bellarmine University men's basketball team is on the road for the second straight week, this time heading to Duval County, Fla., to take on North Florida (15-8, 7-3 ASUN) Thursday at 8 p.m. ET and Jacksonville (13-9, 7-3 ASUN) Saturday at 7 p.m. ET.
 
Live coverage of both games will be available on ESPN+ and ESPN 680/105.7.
 
About North Florida
North Florida (NET No. 228) has posted a 4-2 mark since defeating Bellarmine inside Knights Hall on January 11, including a pair of wins last week over intrastate foe Stetson at home (101-100 in overtime) and intracity rival Jacksonville on the road (81-78). Last time they faced the Knights, the Ospreys sank 20 of 37 three-point attempts (.541) in a 98-83 win. It was the most prolific three-point shooting effort by a Bellarmine opponent this season, both in terms of total makes and percentage, and was more than enough to win despite a .541 shooting night from the Knights.
 
As before, UNF has five players averaging double-digit points in sophomore guard Jasai Miles (15.2), true freshman forward Josh Harris (14.0), graduate forward Liam Murphy (12.6), sixth-year guard Nate Lliteras (12.2) and sophomore guard Jaylen Smith (12.0). Miles is third in the ASUN with five double-doubles.
 
UNF leads the nation in three-point attempts per game and three-point makes and is 84^th nationally (second in the ASUN) in their .359 three-point percentage. The deep looks are spread around as five Ospreys have hit at least 39 three-pointers. North Florida averages an ASUN-best 84.6 points, but also average an ASUN-worst 85.5 points allowed.
 
Davenport on the Ospreys
"North Florida is the most prolific three-point shooting program in the country (depending on the week) and that was obvious in our first encounter. Converting 20 of 37 from the three is a credit to them—they did what they do best. We must accept the challenge to step up on the defensive end of the floor. We are coming off two very difficult losses at Austin Peay and Lipscomb, but our effort and attitude was outstanding. Our goals remain the same and we must execute and compete." –Bellarmine head coach Scott Davenport
 
About Jacksonville
Jacksonville (NET No. 161) is coming off a pair of losses at home to Florida Gulf Coast (83-79) and the aforementioned UNF, dropping them from sole possession of first place in the ASUN at 7-1 to a four-way tie for second at 7-3. Robert McCray V remains the star of the show for the Dolphins, leading JU averaging a team-leading 17.2 points, 4.6 assists and 1.7 steals. He scored 15 points when Jacksonville met Bellarmine in Knights Hall on January 9, helping his team to a 74-59 win.
 
The Dolphins lead the ASUN shooting threes at a .364 clip and are seventh in the conference averaging 72.6 points. On defense, they average a league-best 4.9 blocks, 14.1 turnovers forced and +3.2 rebound margin while sitting second with 8.3 steals. Their 71.3 points per game average on defense ranks them third in the league.
 
Davenport on the Dolphins
"Jacksonville is as imposing from a physical standpoint as anyone, not just in the ASUN, but as anyone throughout NCAA basketball at our level. Robert McCray is a tremendously talented veteran leader. He makes others better. They are very well coached and compete at a high level every minute of every game."
 
Last Week
The Knights dropped a pair of road games on their Tennessee trip, 86-77 in overtime at Austin Peay on Thursday and 87-80 at Lipscomb on Saturday.
 
The Govs outscored the Knights 15-6 in the extra frame to win 86-77. Bellarmine went just 3-for-10 in overtime as APSU connected on all four field goal attempts, including a three, and scored the last six points of the game at the free throw line.
 
Bellarmine shot a season-best 58.9 percent at Lipscomb on Saturday evening, but fell 87-80. The Bisons led by as many as 14 in the first half, but the Knights battled back to settle at a one-point halftime deficit, 38-37. The Knights briefly took a two-point lead at 60-58 with 9:44 left, but Lipscomb responded with a 7-0 run. Bellarmine would again close the gap to one at 74-73 after a Kenyon Goodin three with 2:43 left, but Lipscomb responded with a 13-4 run, which included a pair of threes by Will Pruitt, to secure the win.

Freshman Standout
True freshman Tyler Doyle matched a career high with 15 points Saturday at Lipscomb. The guard has started 15 of 23 games for the Knights and leads the team with his .580 field goal percentage.

Watkins coming on
Guard Myles Watkins scored a career-high 16 points Saturday at Lipscomb on 7-for-12 shooting, 2-for-3 from three. The junior college transfer has five double-digit scoring efforts on the season, with three coming in his last five games in which he is 20-for-37 (.540) from the field and 5-for-9 (.556) from three.
 
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