Basketball Game Preview: University Titans vs. New Smyrna Beach Barracudas

University is 2-8 against New Smyrna Beach since January of 2016 but they'll have a chance to close the gap a little bit on Thursday. The Titans will venture away from home to face off against the Barracudas at 7:30 p.m. University has given up an average of 56.8 points per game this season, but Thursday's game will give them a chance to turn things around.

On Monday, University was beaten by Atlantic 69-35. The game marked the Titans' lowest-scoring contest so far this season.

Meanwhile, New Smyrna Beach put another one in the bag on Tuesday to keep their perfect season alive. They enjoyed a cozy 95-80 victory over Matanzas. The Barracudas' offense stepped up their game for this one, as that was the most points they've scored all season.

New Smyrna Beach's win came from a few key players University will need to keep an eye on. One of the most notable was Owen McLaughlin, who dropped a double-double with 24 points and 12 rebounds. What's more, he posted three steals, the most he's had since back in January. Another player making a difference was JD Fieser, who shot 56% from the field to rack up 29 points and seven boards.

New Smyrna Beach smashed the offensive glass and finished the game with 13 offensive boards. That strong performance was nothing new for the team: they've now pulled down at least 13 offensive rebounds in three consecutive matchups.

University's loss dropped their record down to 3-3. As for New Smyrna Beach, their win bumped their record up to 5-0.

University took a serious blow against New Smyrna Beach in their previous matchup back in December of 2024, falling 66-33. That game was all but decided by halftime, at which point the Titans were down 51-15.