FLORENCE – Payton Youngblood scored a game-high 19 points and Mervin James and Emanuel Littles each turned in double-doubles to lead the University of North Alabama men's basketball team to a 73-66 win over Lipscomb Saturday afternoon at Flowers Hall. The win gives UNA an 11-10 record on the season and locks up the No. 5 seed in the upcoming ASUN Conference Tournament.
UNA will open tournament play against No. 4 seed North Florida on Thursday, March 4, in Jacksonville. Tip-off is set for 1 p.m. (CST) at Swisher Gymnasium on the JU campus.
Against the Bisons, UNA overcame an early 11-point deficit to take a 35-33 lead into the half. The Lions then turned up the defensive pressure over the final 20 minutes. Lipscomb shot 41.8 percent from the floor, but connected on only 10-of-29 field goal attempts in the second half.
North Alabama trailed 23-12 midway through the first half before finding offense from long range. Youngblood hit four three-point baskets and had 14 points in the first half. He connected on a trio of three-pointers as the Lions began to close the gap. Two free throws by C.J. Brim gave UNA its first lead of the day at 31-30 with 2:13 remaining.
A dunk by Littles pushed the lead to three before the Bisons connected on a trey to tie the game at the 1:21 mark. Jamari Blackmon then hit two free throws in the final minute of play to give the Lions a two-point lead at the break.
Neither team led by more than six points in the second half until the closing seconds. After Lipscomb claimed a 42-40 lead early in the period, back-to-back three-pointers by Youngblood and Mervin James gave UNA a 46-42 lead.
The Bisons regained a brief 63-62 lead on a transition basket. North Alabama, however, answered with two free throws from Brim and consecutive baskets by James to make the score 68-63 with under three minutes to play. The visitors got within three, but Littles found Brim open at the top of the key for a three-pointer to push the lead to 71-65 at the 1:41 mark.
Lipscomb would not connect from the floor for the final 2:43 of playing time.
Brim finished with 16 points. James had 13 points and 13 rebounds while Littles finished with 10 points and 17 rebounds. The duo has now combined for 13 double-doubles on the year. Littles also passes Ricky Johnson for No. 4 on UNA's all-time rebounding list. The junior now has 719 career rebounds.
Lipscomb earned the No. 3 seep in the ASUN Tournament. UNA has now claimed the No. 5 seed for the second straight season. The Lions were picked sixth in the preseason coaches poll.
