DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. – The Jacksonville men's basketball team is set to continue its early-season non-conference schedule today with the opening round of the Sunshine Slam. The Dolphins will travel to the Ocean Center in Daytona Beach to face Bethune-Cookman in the first round of the tournament.
Jacksonville enters the Sunshine Slam with a record of 2-3. The record reflects an impressive 87-point victory over Trinity College of Florida, as well as three competitive road games against Miami, High Point and George Mason.
The Sunshine Slam, now in its sixth year, features eight teams divided into two brackets of four teams each. The Ocean Bracket includes Jacksonville, Stony Brook, Bethune-Cookman and Pacific. The Beach Bracket consists of George Mason, Florida Atlantic, Loyola Marymount and Ohio.
Although the tournament has two separate brackets that don't compete against each other, each bracket will play its internal match-ups to crown a champion. In the Ocean Bracket, the opening round semifinals games include Pacific facing Stony Brook at 11 a.m., followed by Jacksonville facing off against Bethune-Cookman at 2 p.m. The winners will compete for the championship, while the losing teams will face each other for third place.
Both Bethune and JU are familiar with the Ocean Center. The Wildcats participated in the 2021 Sunshine Slam, finishing 1-2, including a loss in the Ocean Bracket final, while the school itself is located just minutes down the road. Meanwhile, the Dolphins competed in postseason play last season at the Ocean Center during the College Basketball Invitational.
Round One vs Bethune-Cookman (11/24)
The match-up with the Wildcats will be Jacksonville's first neutral-site game of the season, coming at a crucial time as the team seeks to build momentum heading into the back half of non-conference play. Competing against tough out-of-conference opponents could position Jacksonville as one of the most experienced teams in the ASUN once conference play begins.
Bethune-Cookman currently holds a 2-3 record this season however they have faced one of the toughest and most demanding schedules out of anyone in the country. The Wildcats opened the season by pushing ranked Auburn into overtime at the Jungle. Following that, they returned to Florida to play against Miami.
Entering the Sunshine Slam, Bethune-Cookman boasts one of the most productive and well-balanced offenses in the SWAC, averaging 84.0 points per game. They have a shooting percentage of 46.7% from the field and have made 37 three-pointers so far this year. In addition, the Wildcats have shown strong physicality on the boards, averaging 38.2 rebounds per game, which includes 63 offensive rebounds that have led to consistent second-chance scoring opportunities.
The team's offensive efforts are led by two efficient scorers, Jakobi Heady and Arterio Morris, who both average over 16 points per game and lead the Wildcats in many aspects. Heady has an impressive three-point shooting percentage of 52.9% (9-17), while Morris leads the Wildcats in minutes played, rebounds and assists per game while also averaging 2.4 steals.
Bethune-Cookman receives solid interior production from returning forward Daniel Rouzan, who averages 12.0 points and 5.4 rebounds while shooting 51.9% through five starts. Forward Ariel Bland provides a consistent presence in the paint, shooting 69.2% from the field and averaging 4.8 rebounds off the bench.
Senior guard Seneca Willoughby has emerged as one of the Wildcats' most formidable perimeter threats, averaging 7.6 points and shooting an impressive 64.3% (9-for-14) from beyond the arc. B-CU's perimeter unit has already combined for 41-made three-pointers, helping to spread the floor for their attacking guards.
Round Two vs Stony Brook or Pacific (11/25)
Jacksonville will next face either Stony Brook or Pacific. If Jacksonville beats Bethune-Cookman, it will play the winner of the Stony Brook-Pacific match-up at 1 a.m. However, if Jacksonville loses to the Wildcats in the semifinals, it will face the loser of the Stony Brook-Pacific game at 11 a.m. Tuesday.
Stony Brook currently has a 4-1 record and is recognized as a tough, physical mid-major program. Under head coach Geno Ford, Stony Brook typically plays at a moderate pace and emphasizes limiting turnovers. This presents a potential key storyline as Jacksonville traditionally thrives on creating pressure and forcing mistakes. Additionally, the Seawolves present size in their front-court, which heightens the importance of rebounding battles and second-chance points.
The Seawolves are led offensively by graduate guard Erik Pratt, who is averaging 21.0 points over four starts. He is joined by Rob Brown III and Collin O'Connor, the only other Stony Brook players averaging over 28 minutes per game. The rest of the starting five includes Richard Goods and Quin Gorman. Goods is the Seawolves' leading rebounder, averaging 6.4 boards per game, and he also has four blocks this year. Gorman contributes on the glass, averaging 5.4 rebounds per game.
Pacific, known for its guard-oriented system, operates with pace, spacing and frequent five-out offensive concepts. The Tigers heavily rely on perimeter shot creation, ball screens and quick closeout reads. Pacific traditionally fields multiple capable shooters and wings who can create mismatches.
Elias Ralph has been a standout for the Tigers early in 2025, averaging over 35 minutes and scoring 16.0 points per game on 46.2% shooting from the field and 50% from three-point range, with 10 makes. He is also the Tigers' leading rebounder, with 7.0 rebounds per game, along with five steals and seven blocks thus far.
Issac Jack bolsters the Tigers' experienced front-court, averaging five rebounds, while leading Pacific in offensive boards. He scores effectively, averaging 7.2 points while shooting 54.5% from the field. Justin Rochelin, TJ Wainwright and Jayden Clayton rounds out the Tigers' experienced starting five.
Our Side
Jacksonville's semifinals contest against Bethune-Cookman will set the tone for the remainder of the Sunshine Slam, determining not only the Dolphins' opponent but also the momentum they carry into Tuesday's placement game.
Whether facing a physical, disciplined Stony Brook team or a fast, perimeter-driven Pacific squad, Jacksonville will be challenged by contrasting styles that test both its depth and adaptability. With early-season growth already evident and a roster built on depth at all positions, the Sunshine Slam provides an important opportunity for the Dolphins to continue sharpening their identity before returning home to Swisher Gymnasium later this month.
Jacksonville is led by its sharpshooter Chris Arias. The sophomore guard is averaging 13.4 points per game and has made 18-37 attempts from deep. His game-winning shot against VMI brought the Dolphins into the national spotlight, appearing fifth on the SportsCenter Top-10.
Joining Arias is fellow returning Dolphin Donovan Rivers, who leads the team in rebounding with an average of 4.2 boards per game. Rivers is a force inside, gaining a presence on both ends of the court.
The Dolphins also feature a talented trio of newcomers who enhance both their offensive and defensive play. Transfer guard Jaylen Jones, along with freshmen Hayden Wood and Evan Sterck, can all score and facilitate effectively on offense. Both Jones and Sterck have recorded double-digit assists this season, while Wood is tied for the team lead in blocked shots with five.
Chris Lockett Jr. and Jason Thirdkill Jr., both transfer players, have made contributions to the Dolphins' success this season. Both players are finding their spots in Jordan Mincy's program and are poised to break out at any moment.
Sunshine Slam Schedule
11/24: vs Bethune-Cookman (2:00 PM)
11/25: vs Stony Brook or Pacific (11:00 AM or 1 PM)
