The North Florida Ospreys and the South Carolina State Bulldogs meet in college basketball action from Smith-Hammond-Middleton Memorial Center on Monday night.

North Florida Improves To 2-0

The North Florida Ospreys come into this one looking to build on their 81-70 win over Charleston Southern to improve to 2-0 on the year. Chaz Lanier leads the Ospreys in scoring and assists with 19 PPG along with 3.5 APG while Jake van der Heijden has 13.5 PPG and Ametri Moss has 10 PPG with 3 RPG to round out the scoring in double figures for North Florida up to this point in the year. Dorian James leads the Ospreys on the glass with 6.5 RPG as well this season. As a team, North Florida is averaging 86.5 PPG on 45.5% shooting from the field, 39.3% from three and 76.5% from the foul line this season.

South Carolina State Falls To USF

The South Carolina State Bulldogs come into this one looking to rebound from their first loss of the season in the form of a 96-52 beatdown defeat at the hands of USF last time out. Mitchel Taylor leads the Bulldogs in scoring and assists with 11.5 PPG and 4 APG with 2 SPG as well as the lone double-digit scorer for South Carolina State through their first two games of the year. Damion Everett has added a team-high 9.5 RPG to lead the Bulldogs on the glass up to this point in the season. As a team, South Carolina State is averaging 58.5 PPG on 35.2% from the field, 17.1% from three and 53.3% from the foul line this season.

Chris’ Pick

I think it’s important to not overreact to one result, but man, how bad did South Carolina State look against USF? North Florida hasn’t really played anyone here, no disrespect to Charleston Southern, but it’s not like the Bulldogs in their current form are going to pose much of a threat either, even at home. For me, North Florida is simply heads and shoulders the better team and I will back them here on the road.