FLORENCE, Ala. (November 18, 2023) – The University of North Alabama men's basketball team used a go-ahead basket from
KJ Johnson with 1.9 seconds remaining to earn a 61-59 victory over the Jacksonville State Gamecocks in CB&S Bank Arena at Flowers Hall on Saturday.
The 88th meeting between the in-state rivals lived up to the hype, with the two squads battling until the final buzzer. The game included 13 lead changes and 15 ties, including the Lions and Gamecocks trading the lead eight times in the final six minutes of the game.
The Lions were led by senior guard KJ Johnson, who finished with 23 points and had UNA's final 14 points to end the game. Senior forward Damian Forrest added 11 points to go with his team leading eight rebounds, while sophomore Jacari Lane also found himself in double figures with 10. Five other Lions found their way onto the scoresheet.
The Gamecocks were led by KyKy Tandy with 14 points and Juwan Perdue who notched 13 points and seven rebounds.
HOW IT HAPPENED
FIRST HALF: Scoring was scarce in the first half, with the two teams combining for just 42 points in a defensive battle. Forrest led the Lions to the first half under-eight media timeout with five points as the Lions led Jacksonville State 11-6. The two teams had a scoring drought that lasted just over three minutes until a Juwan Perdue score at 7:45 broke the streak. Following a
Josiah Fulcher layup at 5:59, Jacksonville State would finish the first half on a 13-5 run. Six different Lions scored in the first half as Jacksonville State took a 22-20 lead into the break.
SECOND HALF: Tim Smith Jr. opened the second half with four straight points to give the Lions a 24-22 lead. These four points helped Smith Jr. surpass the 1,000 point threshold in his career. Midway through the second half, UNA took the largest lead of the game at seven after a
Canin Jefferson three-pointer stretched the score to 35-28. The Lions would bring the lead back to seven two more times in the ensuing minutes before an 11-2 Jacksonville State run put the Gamecocks back on top with 8:22 remaining. The two teams would trade baskets for the final six minutes, but a Johnson basket with just 1.9 seconds remaining would give the Lions the final say. Fourteen of Johnson's 23 points came in the final 4:31 of the game.
INSIDE THE NUMBERS
- For the first time this season, UNA's opponent scored first to open the game. In each of the first three games, the Lions struck before the opponent.
- Tim Smith Jr. scored his 1,000th career point on a free throw in the second half. Smith scored 963 points over his career at Walsh University before transferring to UNA. Smith Jr. has 37 points through four games this season.
- The Lions and Gamecocks were tied 15 times in the game, which included 13 lead changes. Both marks are the most in any UNA games so far this season.
- The Lions made just two three point baskets. Two made three-pointers is the fewest in a UNA victory since March 4, 2021 when UNA defeated North Florida 68-60 with two three-pointers.
- North Alabama set new season highs in both free throw attempts (31) and free throws made (25). Five different Lions made a free throw, including Johnson, who led the team with 11 points at the charity stripe.
- Johnson scored UNA's final 14 points of the game, all coming in the final 4:31 of the second half.
COMING UP NEXT
The Lions are set for a two-game road trip next week, traveling to Martin, Tenn. to take on UT Martin on Wednesday, Nov. 22 at 2 p.m. before treking to Cullowhee, N.C. for a Sunday afternoon matchup with Western Carolina at 3 p.m. on Nov. 26.
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