JACKSONVILLE, Fla. (Interstat) — A surging Lipscomb squad looks to rebound from a rare conference setback when it visits struggling North Florida in an ASUN men’s basketball matchup Saturday at UNF Arena.

The Bisons (14-8) enter having won seven of their last nine games but are coming off a 70-65 loss at Jacksonville on Thursday. That defeat snapped a four-game winning streak. Prior to that, Lipscomb had been consistently finding ways to win close games, including an overtime victory over Stetson last week.

North Florida (5-17) has struggled for consistency, though it showed offensive firepower in a 117-114 overtime win over Bellarmine on Jan. 24. The Ospreys fell 84-77 to Stetson in their last outing Thursday.

Lipscomb guard Charlie Williams will be a focal point. The standout is averaging 16.4 points over his last five games, including a 22-point effort in the loss to Jacksonville. He torched Florida Gulf Coast for 27 points and seven rebounds earlier this month. In the first meeting between these teams on Jan. 3, a game Lipscomb won 82-74 in Nashville, Williams scored 14 points in just 17 minutes.

The Ospreys will counter with high-scoring guard Kent Jackson. He is averaging 22.4 points over his last five contests, including a 35-point, five-assist performance in a win at North Alabama on Jan. 15. Jackson scored 19 points in the earlier loss to the Bisons.

Lipscomb’s defense, which allows 74.6 points per game, will be tested by a North Florida offense that has eclipsed 85 points four times in conference play but has also been held under 75 in five of its last nine.

The Bisons have dominated the recent series, winning the last five meetings. North Florida’s last win came in February 2022.

Tip-off is set for Saturday afternoon. Following this game, Lipscomb travels to face Austin Peay on Feb. 5, while North Florida begins a three-game road trip at West Georgia on the same date.