Basketball Game Preview: University Prep Jaguars vs. Academy for Academic Excellence Knights + How To Watch

University Prep is on a four-game streak of home losses dating back to last season, and Academy for Academic Excellence a five-game streak of away losses also dating back to last season. However, someone's due for a change in luck on Friday. The University Prep Jaguars will be home for the holidays to greet the Academy for Academic Excellence Knights at 7:00 p.m. University Prep has given up an average of 61.5 points per game this season, but Friday's game will give them a chance to turn things around.

University Prep is headed into the matchup out to prove that what happened against Big Bear on Tuesday (when they were outscored in every quarter) was just a minor bump in the road. The Jaguars were beaten by the Bears 89-45. The Jaguars were in a tough position after the first half, with the score already sitting at 50-18.

Even though the team lost, they still had their share of impressive performances. One of the best came from Donald McFarlin, who posted 26 points. The team also got some help courtesy of Joshua Okeke, who had 14 points.

Meanwhile, Academy for Academic Excellence blew past Norton Science & Language Academy, posting a 68-30 victory. With that win, the Knights brought their scoring average up to 50.9 points per game.

Academy for Academic Excellence's win came from a few key players University Prep will need to keep an eye on. One of the most notable was Aidan MacDonald, who dropped a double-double with 19 points and 11 boards. He has been hot, having posted 11 or more rebounds the last five times he's played. Another player making a difference was Isaac Marine, who went 8-for-17 on his way to 21 points.

Academy for Academic Excellence smashed the offensive glass and finished the game with 14 offensive rebounds. That strong performance was nothing new for the team: they've now pulled down at least 13 offensive boards every time they've taken the court this season.

Academy for Academic Excellence's victory bumped their record up to 2-5. As for University Prep, their loss dropped their record down to 4-9.

University Prep came up short against Academy for Academic Excellence when the teams last played back in December of 2024, falling 58-54. Will the Jaguars have more luck at home instead of on the road? Check MaxPreps after the match for a full breakdown of the game, commentary, and other basketball content.