Orange Host Ospreys Saturday

Game Details: Saturday, Dec. 21, Syracuse, N.Y., 6 p.m.
Tickets: Buy Now
Television: ACC Network | ACCNX
Live Coverage: Stats
Twitter: @cuse | @Cuse_MBB
Syracuse Links: Notes | News | Roster | Schedule
North Florida Links: Notes | News | Roster | Schedule

SYRACUSE, N.Y. -- Syracuse (6-5, 1-1) is back in action on Saturday, Dec. 21 when it welcomes North Florida to the Carrier Dome. The contest tips off at 6 p.m.

Tickets for all regular-season home games are on sale now online (Cuse.com/tickets), by phone (888-DOME-TIX) and at the Dome Box Office located in the Ensley Athletic Center.

The game will be televised on the ACC Network. The match will also be streamed on ACC Network Extra, but fans can only watch the stream if their cable provider carries the ACC Network. Fans unsure if their provider carries ACCN are strongly encouraged to visit GetACCN.com. Fans can also listen to all the action on the Syracuse Sports Network from Learfield IMG College.

ORANGE UPDATE
Redshirt junior Elijah Hughes and freshman Joseph Girard III led Syracuse (6-5, 1-1) to a 74-62 victory against Oakland in the Dome on Wednesday. Hughes finished with 23 points, while Girard III added 20 points to go along with seven assists. Junior Bourama Sidibe pulled down 13 rebounds and recorded four steals.

ORANGE IN THE NATIONAL RANKINGS
Syracuse ranks 15th in the nation in assists per game (17.3) and 26th in total assists (190) in the latest NCAA Division I national statistics. In addition, the Orange are 21st in assist turnover ratio (1.36).

Individually, Hughes is fourth in 3-point field goals made (40) and fifth in 3-point field goals per game (3.64), while sophomore Buddy Boeheim is 16th (37) in 3-pointers made and 3-pointers made per game (3.36). Girard III has been solid from the free throw line as he ranks second in free throw percentage (97.0).

SCOUTING THE OSPREYS
North Florida enters Saturday's game with a 7-6 record after losing at Florida State, 98-81, on Tuesday. The Ospreys lead the nation in 3-point field goals made per game (12.5). North Florida has connected on 162 of its 428 attempts from behind the arc.

Four players are averaging more than 10 points per game. That group is led by sophomore Carter Hendricksen, who is scoring 16.2 points per game. Hendricksen, senior Ivan Gandia-Rosa and redshirt senior JT Escobar have each made more than 35 3-point field goals this season. Hendrickson also leads the team on the boards, pulling down 8.5 rebounds per game.

Matthew Driscoll is in his 11th season at the helm of the North Florida program. He guided the Ospreys to a NCAA Tournament bid in 2014-15 and an appearance in the NIT in 2015-16. Driscoll was named ASUN Coach of the Year in both of those seasons.

SERIES HISTORY
Saturday's game marks the second meeting between Syracuse and North Florida. The Ospreys visited the Dome on December 3, 2016. Andrew White III scored 26 points to lead the Orange to a 77-71 victory.

UP NEXT
Syracuse has a week off before hosting Niagara on Saturday, Dec. 28 at 7 p.m. in the final non-conference game of the season. Tickets for all regular-season home games are on sale now online (Cuse.com/tickets), by phone (888-DOME-TIX) and at the Dome Box Office located in the Ensley Athletic Center.

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Players Mentioned

Buddy Boeheim

Joseph Girard III

Elijah Hughes

Bourama Sidibe

Syracuse University Athletics