NASHVILLE (January 20, 2024) – The University of North Alabama produced its highest road shooting percentage against a Division I opponent this season on Saturday at 56.4 percent, but ran into another hot-shooting team as Lipscomb defeated the Lions by an 88-79 final in Nashville.
The Bisons were tough to slow down, shooting 57.4 percent from the field and putting up similar numbers behind the arc with 10-18 shooting for 55.6 percent. UNA also had a stellar game behind the arc, shooting 9-19 for 47.4 percent, but could not keep up with the home team.
The Lions dip to 7-12 overall and 1-4 in Atlantic Sun Conference play — all four losses single digit margins. Lipscomb improves to 12-8 overall 3-2 in the ASUN.
The 56.4 shooting percentage for North Alabama ranks second all-time against Division I opponents in the Division I era. The highest came in January of last season at home against North Florida at 57.6 percent. The Lions went 31-55 from the field today, including 19-32 in the second half.
Both teams were steady but efficient in the first half, as the Bisons led 36-30 at the break. The second half was more explosive both ways, as the two sides combined for 101 points with Lipscomb at a 52-49 advantage.
The Lions were led by senior forward
Damian Forrest in the high-octane affair with a career-high 21 points and a game-high nine rebounds. Forrest's previous career-high came last season against Alabama State with 20 points.
Three other Lions finished in double figures with sophomore guard
Jacari Lane scoring 16 points, former Lipscomb player and second year Lion
KJ Johnson at 12 points and junior
Dallas Howell with 11. Howell also added three steals on the defensive end.
Lipscomb also had four players in double figures led by Derrin Boyd with 19 points and Joe Anderson with 18 points and five assists. Anderson went 7-7 from the floor and 4-4 behind the arc.
HOW IT HAPPENED
First Half: Setting the tone early, Lipscomb went on a 7-0 run in the first two minutes. Lane broke the run with a three-pointer for UNA, then a 9-0 run broke out and Howell sank a triple to give UNA its first lead at 12-11 with 14:41 to go. Lipscomb led most of the way after that, but UNA stayed within a single digit margin and trailed six at the break. UNA had a four-percent advantage in first half shooting, but Lipscomb fired up six more shots to make the difference. Johnson had nine points to lead all players in the first half.
Second Half: The second half became an absolute shootout, as both teams scored 20 points within the first 10 minutes of the second half. UNA pulled within three at the 15:02 mark, but that would be the closest UNA got to the lead. Strong three-point shooting by Lipscomb eventually added up to a double-digit lead, going 6-9 from behind the arc. Despite this, UNA hung around for a long time, going 5-12 from downtown.
INSIDE THE NUMBERS
- For the first time in conference play, UNA was outscored in both halves. The 49 second half points were the second-mos by UNA in a league game behind the 53 points scored in the second half against Central Arkansas.
- Lipscomb had a 20-8 rebound advantage in the first half, but UNA made corrections in the second half to win 13-11 on the boards in the final 20 minutes.
- UNA went to the line just nine times, going 8-9 at the line. Lipscomb finished 16-23.
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Both teams had 12 turnovers, including eight steals for UNA.
- Forrest went 10-13 from the floor, tying Lane for the most made field goals in a game this season. Lane did it against Morehead State on Dec. 10.
- UNA had 20 bench points, led by Howell with 11, Detalian Brown with five and Canin Jefferson and Josiah Fulcher with two apiece.
COMING UP NEXT
UNA ends a three-game road stretch on Wednesday against defending ASUN Champion Kennesaw State. Tipoff from Georgia is set for 7 p.m. ET and 6 p.m. CT for fans in the Shoals.
For more information on North Alabama Athletics, visit www.roarlions.com and follow UNA Athletics on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
