JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — The Jacksonville Dolphins (9-17, 4-9 ASUN) men's basketball team returns home for round one of the River City Rumble, aiming to protect Swisher Gymnasium against cross-town rival North Florida.

This match up marks the 56th meeting between the schools since they began playing annually in 2004. It is also the fifth consecutive season featuring a home-and-home series. The Ospreys lead the all-time series, 23-22.

Last season, North Florida won both match ups against the Dolphins by a combined margin of just seven points: victories of three and four points. In Swisher Gymnasium, Jacksonville fell despite outscoring UNF by 18 in the second half, and battled to the final moments inside UNF Arena in game two.

Last Time Out

Jacksonville dropped its fourth straight game on Wednesday in Deland, falling to the Hatters 62-67. The loss capped a three-game road trip, during which the Dolphins lost all three games and dropped their away record to 2-13 this season.

Jaylen Jones and Hayden Wood led Jacksonville with 14 points each in the loss. It was Jones's third consecutive game with double-digit scoring, the first such streak since November against VMI, George Mason, and Bethune-Cookman. He also added a season and game-high eight rebounds. Wood has scored in double figures in five straight games, raising his average to 12.4 points and ranking in the ASUN's top 10 for three-pointers made per game (2.4).

The Dolphins held Stetson to 67 points, the fourth-lowest total the 'Phins have held an ASUN opponent to this season. After giving up their two highest point totals last week, giving up 93 to Queens and 87 to West Georgia, the Dolphins got back on track. However, JU went 20-62 (36.7%) from the floor and 4-22 (18.2%) from deep, the fourth-lowest percentages this season for both.  

Ospreys By The Numbers

This season, the Ospreys are third in the conference in scoring, averaging 81.6 points per game. However, they rank last in defense, surrendering 90.7 points per game, seven more than Queens, who sit one spot ahead.

UNF relies heavily on the three-point shot, ranking fourth nationally in threes made per game (11.8) and seventh in attempts (32.5). They convert 36.4% from beyond the arc, placing them 52nd in the country.

Kamrin Oriol leads the Ospreys, ranking fifth nationally in total points and 22nd in points per game (20.7). He is second in the ASUN and 28th nationally in three-point percentage (42.1%). Oriol also averages over 35 minutes per game, most in the conference and 44th in the nation, and ranks third in the ASUN with 74 assists.

Right behind Oriol sits former Dolphin Kent Jackson, who transferred after his freshman year at Jacksonville. He is second in Division I for three-pointers made (93) and sixth in threes per game (3.6). He also leads the nation in three-point attempts.

After 16 seasons under Matthew Driscoll, Bobby Kennen steps in as interim head coach. Kennen, a longtime assistant and Driscoll's first hire at UNF in 2009, takes over following Driscoll's departure to become associate head coach at Kansas State, where the Wildcats are 10-14 and 1-10 in the Big 12.

River City Receding

Jacksonville and North Florida are now tied for 10th in the ASUN, after both teams dropped from a tie for sixth last week due to ongoing losing streaks.

Current ASUN Standings:
1. Austin Peay (12-1)
2. Central Arkansas (11-2)
T3. Lipscomb (9-4)
T3. Queens (9-4)
T5. West Georgia (6-7)
T5. Bellarmine (6-7)
T7. FGCU (5-8)
T7. EKU (5-8)
T7. Stetson (5-8)
T10. Jacksonville (4-9)
T10. North Florida (4-9)
12. North Alabama (2-11)

Both teams hope to reverse their fortunes with a marquee rivalry win on Saturday.

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The Dolphins boast the ASUN's top scoring defense, allowing just 71.5 points in conference play. Jacksonville also ranks sixth best in opponents' field goal percentage, at 47%.

Donovan Rivers continues to look like an All-ASUN player, being a dominant force inside. In seven of Jacksonville's 13 games, Rivers has posted 10+ points, scoring 17 three times, his career high. He leads the Dolphins in offensive rebounds per game and has improved his free-throw percentage, going 76% in his last three games, 19-25 from the line.

Jacksonville ranks among the league leaders in blocked shots, averaging 2.9 per game. Jason Thirdkill Jr. leads the charge, ranking top-10 in the ASUN with around one block per game. His defensive presence has made it tough for opponents to score inside, and he stands 13th in the conference in total rebounds.

Evan Sterck has given Jacksonville immediate production as a freshman. Leading the team in assists, with 37 in conference play, Sterck acts as the primary ball-handler for the Dolphins. His 17 steals is tied for eleventh in the ASUN, tied with teammate Jones.

Despite a significant offseason roster overhaul, Jacksonville remains one of the deepest teams in the country. The Dolphins rank 28th nationally in bench points per game and lead the ASUN with 30.1 bench points per contest.
Against Stetson, the Dolphins' 41 rebounds are the most the Dolphins pulled down in conference play, and the second most all year to division one teams.

Jacksonville has the second-best rebounding margin in the ASUN through twelve conference games, despite only having third fewest total team rebounds. Jacksonville's stifling defense puts possessions at a premium and slows down the game in Jacksonville's favor.