The Jacksonville Dolphins men’s basketball team, currently holding a record of 8-13 overall and 3-5 in the ASUN conference, will continue their home schedule this week as they prepare to host both Lipscomb and Florida Gulf Coast University (FGCU). Following a competitive split in their recent home games, the Dolphins achieved a thrilling overtime victory against Eastern Kentucky University (EKU) on Saturday, finishing 81-76. This win was highlighted by standout performances from Chris Lockett Jr., who scored a career-high 25 points, Donovan Rivers with 17, and Evan Sterck, contributing 16 points.
Lockett delivered an impressive shooting display, going 10-for-13 from the field and sinking both of his three-point attempts. He also made his mark on the defensive end, recording three steals, the 13th-best single-game total in the conference this season. Allen Udemadu provided critical support with six points and seven rebounds, playing a pivotal role in overtime with four points and three boards during the extra session. After trailing by seven points with just over three minutes left in regulation, the Dolphins surged back to outscore EKU 22-10 in the closing stretch.
The Dolphins find themselves tied for sixth place in the conference standings alongside EKU, Stetson, and UNF. They’ve shown resilience, managing a balanced record of 3-3 over their last six games, with their last three Saturday contests resulting in wins by an average margin of nearly 20 points.
Upcoming matchups include a clash with Lipscomb on Thursday, January 29, at 7:00 PM, and another against FGCU on Saturday, January 31, at 3:00 PM. Lipscomb enters the game with a record of 14-7 overall and 7-1 in ASUN play. The Bisons rank fifth in both total offense and defense within the conference, averaging 81.6 points scored while allowing 74.1 points against. They exhibit a solid scoring margin of +7.5 and limit opponents to a conference-best 46.3% shooting from the field. The Bisons have five players scoring in double figures, with Grant Asman leading the charge at 14.5 points per game.
Previously, the Dolphins faced Lipscomb on New Year’s Day in a loss, where Chris Arias posted 13 points. Historically, Lipscomb leads the series 27-19, winning the last five meetings, although Jacksonville has performed well at home, claiming five victories in their last six encounters at Swisher Gymnasium.
Turning to FGCU, the Eagles, sporting a record of 8-13 and 2-6 in the ASUN, rank ninth in total offense but hold the third-best opponent shooting percentage at 44.3%. J.R. Konieczny leads FGCU’s scoring efforts with an average of 18 points in conference play. FGCU leads the all-time series against Jacksonville with 23 wins to 12 losses, having triumphed in their last seven encounters.
One of Jacksonville’s strengths this season has been its defensive prowess, leading the conference by allowing just 68.8 points per game. Newcomer Hayden Wood has been instrumental, contributing over 12 points and nearly three rebounds per game while showcasing his shooting ability with a 41.8% success rate from three-point range. Despite offseason changes to the roster, Jacksonville has established itself as one of the deeper teams in the nation, ranking 15th in the country for bench points per game and producing a conference-high 36.5 bench points per contest. As they head into these crucial matchups, the Dolphins are hopeful for continued success and improvements on the court.