FLORENCE, Ala. (December 9, 2023) – The University of North Alabama looks to defend its home court on Sunday, as the Lions welcome Morehead State to CB&S Bank Arena on Sunday afternoon at 2 p.m.
 
Sunday's non-conference battle includes a pair of contenders in their respective leagues. Both Morehead State (154) and North Alabama (190) are sub-200 teams in the latest NCAA NET Rankings — the system that rates all 362 NCAA Division I teams based on a variety of factors such as quality wins and strength of schedule.
 
Furthermore, Morehead State is the highest ranked team in the OVC, while the Lions are the second-highest ASUN team in the NET.
 
Premium Seating at CB&S Bank Arena inside Flowers Hall is sold out for the year, but general admission season tickets and single game tickets are still available. For ticket information, contact bbond@una.edu, call 256-765-5466 or visit online at this link.
 
Parking is available to the general public along the streets of Circular Road and Stewart Avenue, as well as the parking lot in front of Rice and Rivers Hall and the parking garage. Lots A-C at The Bill Jones Athletic Complex and below the arena are reserved parking spaces. There is also paid parking below the Science Building off Circular Road.
 
GAMEDAY INFORMATION
Game: North Alabama vs. Morehead State
Date: Sunday, December 9
Time: 2:00 p.m.
Location: Florence, Alabama
Venue: CB&S Bank Arena inside Flowers Hall
Capacity: 2,223
TV: ESPN+ — "Voice of the Lions" Benjamin Ray (PxP) and Matt Daniels (Analyst)
Radio: WLX 98.3 / 103.5 FM — "Voice of the Rocket City Trash Pandas" Josh Caray
Live Stats: StatBroadcast
Game Notes: Click here
Tickets: RoarLions.com
Social Media: @UNA_Basketball
 
NOTES
 
SCOUTING THE LIONS: UNA is 5-4 on the season with all five wins coming at home. The Lions are averaging 80.7 points per game while only giving up 73.8 defensively. UNA's high-octane offense is aided by a 76.8 free throw percentage and a 38.4 three point percentage. Both totals are ranked among the top 40 teams in the nation, while the three-point percentage leads the ASUN.
 
SCOUTING THE EAGLES: Morehead State enters with a 6-3 record and rides a four-game win streak into Sunday. Two of those four wins have come against ASUN competition with road wins over Bellarmine and Austin Peay. Last time out, the Eagles defeated Chattanooga 87-80 at home. MSU averages 73.0 PPG while allowing just 67.3 PPG. Graduate forward Riley Minix is the player to watch for Morehead State with 17.1 PPG and 8.3 RPG to lead the team in both categories.
 
SERIES HISTORY: Sunday marks the third all-time meeting between UNA and Morehead State. The Lions won both of the first two meetings with a 67-57 win at home in 2019 and an 81-75 win in Kentucky last season. In last year's game, the Lions trailed by 18 points in the second half, but stormed back to take the lead with 3:12 remaining and iced the game late. KJ Johnson and Jacari Lane combined for 37 points in the win.
 
LAST TIME OUT: UNA hosted Elementary Day last Thursday morning against Rust College, defeating the Bearcats 109-65 to send a crowd of over 1,700 local elementary students home happy. The 109 points are the most UNA has scored in a single game since moving up to Division I in 2018. All 13 players who entered for UNA scored at least once.
 
HOME COOKING: The Lions are 26-2 in non-conference home games under head coach Tony Pujol over six seasons, including 15 straight wins. UNA's last non-conference home loss came on December 10, 2020 against Troy — exactly three years ago tomorrow.
 
QUALITY SHOOTING: In the Rust College win, UNA shot a whopping 60.6 percent from the field. This marks the 24th time UNA has shot over 50 percent in the Division I era, but just the second time shooting over 60 percent. The Division I era record for UNA was set last season against Oakwood at 63.4 percent.
 
KEEPING IT 100: The Lions have eclipsed the 100 point scoring mark twice this season, including a home win over Rust College and an overtime road loss to UT Martin. Since moving up to Division I in 2018, UNA has scored 100 points or more nine times over six seasons.
 
MARCO FOSTER HITS 1K: Junior guard Marco Foster scored his 1,000th career point on Thursday against Rust College, leading the Lions with 19 points on 5-6 shooting behind the arc. He is the third member of the active roster to reach 1,000 career points, joining Johnson and Tim Smith Jr.
 
ALMOST OUT OF THE WOODS: Senior forward Damian Forrest currently sits at 995 career points and with five more would become the fourth UNA player on the active roster to reach 1,000 career points. The list of teams with 1,000 point scorers in the nation is short, including St. John's (NY), TCU, St. Bonaventure, Tennessee and Villanova.
 
BUILDING ON SUCCESS: North Alabama finished with an 18-15 record last season, representing the most single-season wins since the Lions made the jump to NCAA Division I in 2018-19.
 
HUNTING ANOTHER POSTSEASON RUN: Last season, UNA played in the 2023 College Basketball Invitational (CBI) to mark the first postseason tournament in the program's NCAA Division I history. Prior to that, UNA's last postseason appearance was an NCAA Regional in 2013-14. UNA has participated in 14 NCAA Tournaments (all Division II), including five Final Four appearances and two National Championship wins.
 
PUJOL CONTINUES PROGRAM GROWTH: UNA head coach Tony Pujol enters his sixth season at the helm, serving as the first and only coach of UNA's Division I era. Pujol enters Sunday's bout with 68 wins over six seasons and led UNA to an 18-15 overall record in its first season out of the four-year Division I transition period.
 
STRENGTH IN STAFF: The UNA men's basketball coaching staff experienced some restructuring this offseason, including the promotion of Ahmad Smith to Associate Head Coach and Sean Foley to Special Assistant to the Head Coach. Additions to the staff include Austin Burnette as an assistant coach, Landon Travis to handle basketball operations and Eric Wagenlander to direct efforts in player development. Assistant Coach Carter Heston and Director of Sport Performance Leo Stern also return from last year's staff.
 
UP NEXT: On Wednesday, the Lions will hit the road once again to face Charleston Southern. Tipoff is set for 7 p.m. in Charleston, S.C.
 
For more information on North Alabama Athletics, visit www.roarlions.com and follow UNA Athletics on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.