FLORENCE, Ala. (December 18, 2024) – The North Alabama men's basketball team will play its final home game of the calendar year Thursday night inside CB&S Bank Arena, as the Lions will host Charleston Southern for a 6 p.m. tip.
 
UNA is tied for the best record in the Atlantic Sun Conference with a 7-4 record. A win tomorrow would give UNA its best start since the 2020-21 season and would start a three-game win streak.
 
The game will be carried on ESPN+ with "Voice of the Lions" Benjamin Ray and Matt Daniels on the call and Lynden Blake courtside. Fans can also listen to the local broadcast on 98.3 and 103.5 FM with Bryan Neece. Live stats will also be available.
 
Tickets are available by calling 256-765-5466 (LION) or by visiting this link.

Due to ongoing construction, the basketball parking plan has been revised for the 2024-25 season. Lots A and B will be in the parking lot directly below Flowers Hall. Lot A pass holders will have coned off spots near the staircase. Shuttles will be available to take fans up to the field house lot for entry into CB&S Bank Arena.

Lot C parking will be in the parking lot below the Mitchell Burford Science and Technology Building. Residential Students will have access into Lot C with their hang tags. The public can also park in this lot for $12. Parking at the Bill Jones athletic complex will be unavailable. However, this lot is available as a drop off area near the arena.
 
GAMEDAY INFORMATION
Game: North Alabama vs. Charleston Southern
Date: Thursday, December 19
Time: 6 p.m.
Location: Florence, Alabama
Venue: CB&S Bank Arena at Flowers Hall
Capacity: 3,000
Watch: ESPN+ ("Voice of the Lions" Benjamin Ray, Matt Daniels, Lynden Blake)
Radio: WLX 98.3 / 103.5 FM (Bryan Neece)
Live Stats: StatBroadcast
Tickets: Click Here
Game Notes: Click Here
Social Media: @UNA_Basketball
 
NOTES
 
LAST TIME OUT: North Alabama went on the road to East Carolina last Wednesday, securing a 74-67 win over the Pirates inside Minges Coliseum. UNA trailed 15-11 in the first half, but went on a 21-3 run and led for the final 31 minutes. This marked the highest NET ranked win of the season for UNA, as ECU was ranked No. 169. Taye Fields nearly completed a triple double with 12 points, 11 rebounds and a career-high eight assists.
 
SCOUTING THE LIONS: UNA enters 7-4 overall and received 23 votes in the College Insider Mid-Major Top 25 poll this week. The Lions score 78.3 points per game — second-most in the ASUN — while allowing just 71.4 PPG. UNA is among the top teams in the turnover department this season, ranking 34th in the nation in turnover margin and 44th with 9.1 steals per game.
 
SCOUTING THE BUCCANEERS: Charleston Southern is 3-9 on the season, dropping its last two against Davidson and South Carolina State. However, the Bucs pulled a signature win on Nov. 30 against the Miami Hurricanes, winning 83-79 on the road. CSU is averaging 72.1 PPG with 77.8 PPG allowed. The Bucs have no trouble getting to the line, averaging 23 free throws per game, but rank last in the NCAA with a 57.6 free throw percentage.
 
SERIES HISTORY: This will be the second all-time meeting between UNA and Charleston Southern. This season completes a home-and home with the Buccaneers, as UNA won last year's meeting 76-64 in Charleston, S.C.
 
LAST YEAR'S MEETING: Four Lions scored in double figures as UNA won 76-64 at Charleston Southern last season, led by 14 points each from returning junior Jacari Lane and graduated senior KJ Johnson. UNA did most of its damage in the post last season, outscoring the Bucs 46-18 in the paint. CSU was led by RJ Johnson with a game-high 27 points. RJ Johnson is back this season as a redshirt junior.
 
ASUN VS. BIG SOUTH: UNA is 1-0 against current members of the Big South Conference with Charleston Southern being the first and only opponent UNA has faced from the conference. Meanwhile, the Bucs are 7-19 against current members of the ASUN and will hunt their first win over an ASUN opponent since beating Stetson in 2011.
 
PLAYER OF THE WEEK: On Monday, the ASUN announced Jacari Lane as the Co-Player of the Week along with North Florida's Jaylen Smith. Lane had a game-high 19 points, five rebounds and three assists in a 74-67 win at East Carolina. Lane is the first repeat winner of the award this season and has won it four times over three seasons.
 
LANE CHASING WIMP: Lane is currently 21st on UNA's all-time scoring list with 1,063 career points. He is currently three points away from 20th in program history, which would pass UNA Hall of Famer and legendary former Alabama head basketball coach Wimp Sanderson. Sanderson is the all-time winningest coach at Alabama with a 267-119 career record. He averaged 14.9 PPG for his playing career. Lane currently averages 14.0.
 
SENIOR SCORER: Earlier this season, fifth-year senior Will Soucie broke the all-time school record with 127 career games, passing Casey Holt (2003-08) with 123. The New Jersey native is on his way to a career season with 10.9 PPG through 11 starts. Soucie had a team-high 16 points and seven rebounds in the last home game against Tennessee Tech.
 
REBOUND YEAR: Redshirt sophomore Corneilous Williams leads the ASUN with 8.1 rebounds per game. Last season at Western Carolina, he averaged just 11 minutes per game and 3.5 PPG. This season, he is averaging over 28 minutes per game with 10.3 PPG and 8.1 RPG.
 
UNSUNG HERO: Senior Taye Fields has been an impact player for UNA, as the Missouri Western transfer has the best assist-turnover ratio on the team with 33 assists to just 14 turnovers. He is tied for the team lead with 17 steals. Last time out, Fields nearly had a triple double with 12 points, 11 rebounds and eight assists at ECU.
 
MAGIC NUMBER: The magic number has been 70 for UNA this season. The Lions are 7-1 when scoring at least 70 points, while 0-3 when scoring under 70 points. On the defensive end, UNA has allowed less than 70 points in all seven wins and more than 70 in all four losses.

LOCKDOWN DEFENSE: In three games this season, UNA has held an opponent to under 60 points. This includes wins over Air Force, Point and Tennessee Tech. The Lions accomplished this twice all of last season with wins over Jacksonville State and Bellarmine.

ON DECK: The Lions close the calendar year in Los Angeles on Sunday, Dec. 22 at Loyola Marymount. Tipoff is set for 6 p.m. CT and 4 p.m. on the west coast. This will officially close non-conference play for UNA.

UNA BASKETBALL NIGHT AT LOST PIZZA: The UNA basketball programs announced a new partnership with Lost Pizza Co. in downtown Florence this season, as the restaurant will host the weekly "UNA Basketball Night" live radio show each Tuesday from 6-7:30 p.m. The show is on break for the holidays and will resume Tuesday, January 7. For more information, click here.

For more information on North Alabama Athletics, visit www.roarlions.com and follow UNA Athletics on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.