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Men's Basketball Looks to Continue Hot Streak at Jacksonville

Feb. 11, 2005

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JACKSONVILLE - The UCF men's basketball team will be in search of its fifth-consecutive victory when it plays host Jacksonville in an Atlantic Sun contest on Saturday at noon at Swisher Gymnasium. The Golden Knights enter the game 16-7 overall and 9-6 in league play, while Jacksonville is 13-10 and 9-7. Currently, UCF sits alone in second place in the A-Sun standings.

ABOUT UCF The Golden Knights are seeking to win five straight games for the first time this season. The squad will be playing the final tilt of three consecutive contests on the road.

Josh Peppers is UCF's top scorer, leading the team with a 12.6 points per game average. Gary Johnson (12.3) and Anthony Williams (11.4) are the other Golden Knights averaging double-digits in scoring. Williams is UCF's leading rebounder, grabbing 6.1 per contest. Johnson has recorded 85 assists and 48 steals to pace the squad in both categories.

As a team, UCF is averaging 69.1 points per outing, while allowing an Atlantic Sun-low 65.2. The Golden Knights are first in the conference in field goal percentage (45.9) and second in field goal percentage defense, as foes are shooting just 42.4 percent overall.

ABOUT JACKSONVILLE The Dolphins are coming off of a 100-73 loss at home to Florida Atlantic on Feb. 10. Sophomore forward Haminn Quaintance led Jacksonville with a career-high 27 points and 15 boards and senior guard David Lee added 20 points in the loss. The hosts committed 22 turnovers, leading to 31 points for the Owls. FAU shot 61.9 percent from the floor for the game, compared to only 38.8 percent for the Dolphins.

Quaintance leads the team in scoring at 12.7 points per game, followed by Lee and junior forward Antonio Cool at 12.2 points apiece. Quaintance is second in the A-Sun in rebounds (9.0) and blocks (2.5) per game.

Jacksonville is scoring 69.9 points per outing, but allowing 73.7. Overall, the Dolphins are shooting 45.6 percent and holding opponents to a 42.1 percent mark, good for first in the league.

SERIES HISTORY The all-time series is tied, with both teams winning 10 games each. In Jacksonville, the Dolphins have an 8-3 series edge. UCF's last victory in Jacksonville came on Jan. 19, 2000. Jacksonville has won three of the last four contests.

The squads met in Orlando on Jan. 9 and UCF claimed a 75-57 win at UCF Arena. Marcus Avant led UCF with a game-high 14 points, plus seven rebounds. Justin Rose and Josh Peppers each scored 11 points in the win. The Golden Knights dominated the glass, outrebounding the Dolphins, 39-23. UCF shot 52.1 percent overall and hit 10-of-20 three-point field goal attempts. The visitors shot just 37.5 percent from the field and were led by Haminn Quaintance, who finished with 11 points, 10 rebounds and five blocks.

Under head coach Kirk Speraw, UCF is 10-4 against the Dolphins.

ON THE AIR The game will be broadcast live on the UCF ISP Sports Network and its flagship station 740-THE TEAM (AM). Marc Daniels will call all of the action from courtside.

ON THE TUBE UCF-Jacksonville will be aired live in Florida on Sun Sports. Whit Watson (play-by-play) and Charles Davis (color) will handle the broadcast duties.