FLORENCE, Ala. (December 19, 2024) –
Taye Fields played in his 100th collegiate game on Thursday, and it could not have been any better.
The North Alabama senior guard scored his 1,000th career point, including 25 points tonight to lead UNA to an 86-69 win over Charleston Southern on Thursday in the final non-conference home game of the year.
Fields went 10-12 from the floor for 83 percent — the third-highest shooting percentage of his career and the highest since joining UNA this season from Division II Missouri Western State. He had 889 career points in three seasons with the Griffons before joining UNA as a senior.
As for the team, UNA improved to 8-4 on the season. The eight wins are tied for the most non-conference victories since moving to Division I in 2018. The last time UNA accomplished this was in 2022, as the Lions finished 18-15 overall.
A number of stats popped off the sheet, but perhaps none more than points off turnovers. The Lions, who are among the nation's leaders in turnover margin, outscored Charleston Southern (3-10) by a 25-3 margin off turnovers. UNA won the turnover battle 17-7.
Fields was not the only Lion to shine on Thursday, as three others joined him in double figures.
Junior guard
Jacari Lane — Fields' high school teammate at Lee High School in Huntsville — had 18 points and six assists. Lane moved into 20th on UNA's all-time career scoring list, passing UNA Hall of Famer Wimp Sanderson (1957-59) who had 1,065 career points. Sanderson went on to become the all-time winningest coach at Alabama from 1980-92.
Lane now has 1,081 career points and needs just two more to move past Richard Hartry (1974-77) for 19th. Ahead of him on the list is Kenny Johnson (2007-09) with 1,135 career points.
Seniors
Daniel Ortiz and Will Souci were also crucial on Thursday with 13 points apiece. Soucie went 5-8 from the floor, while Ortiz led the Lions with a 3-8 showing behind the arc. Redshirt sophomore
Corneilous Williams had six points and a team-high six rebounds.
Charleston Southern's Taje' Kelly had a career-high 34 points and 14 rebounds.
HOW IT HAPPENED
First Half: The game started with six lead changes in the first eight minutes, but UNA went on a 10-0 run starting at the 14:39 mark of the first half and never trailed again. Fields had 17 first half points, pulling within two of his 1,000th career point. Ortiz added 10 with a pair of threes, while Lane had nine with four assists. Fields made a layup in the final minute of the half to officially put UNA up double digits at the break, 46-35.
Second Half: The Bucs came within nine with 5:32 remaining, but the Lions held a 16-5 scoring advantage over the next four minutes to go up by 20. Lane, Ortiz and Soucie all had crucial three-pointers in this stretch, extending the lead to the point of no return. Fields had his 1,000th career point with 18:25 remaining on a driving layup.
INSIDE THE NUMBERS
- Right on brand, UNA won the turnover battle 17-7 and outscored the Bucs 25-3 in points off turnovers.
- Fields made 10 field goals to tie Lane for the season-high by a Lion player this season. Lane scored 10 in an overtime game against Samford, meaning Fields is the only player to score 10 field goals in a regulation game so far.
- UNA had its best shooting night of the season, going 33-59 for 56 percent. This marks the best shooting night since going 56.4 last January at Lipscomb.
- Despite losing, Charleston Southern had the best three-point percentage of any UNA opponent outside of No. 4 Auburn, shooting 10-26 for 38.5 percent.
- For a second straight season, UNA dominated the paint with a 44-24 advantage. Last season, UNA outscored the Bucs 46-18 in the paint.
- UNA scored 18 fast break points. Charleston Southern did not score any on fast breaks.
- UNA led for 37:02 of 40:00 minutes on Thursday and has led at least once in every game this season.
- The Lions are now 31-4 in non-conference home games in seven seasons under Tony Pujol. UNA is also 54-27 in home games over that span.
- UNA improves to a 2-0 all-time record against Charleston Southern.
- 6 - This is the number of free boneless wings that fans can retrieve at the Buffalo Wild Wings location in Florence after every UNA win with the purchase of six wings. Fans are encouraged to show their ticket or the social media graphic to retrieve the offer.
- 60 - When the Lions score at least 60 points, fans can head to Culver's the next day and earn a free single scoop dish of the "flavor of the day" custard when making an online purchase with the code CUSTARD4LIONS. Only retrievable at the Cloverdale Road location in Florence.
- 80 - Anytime the Lions score 80 or more points, fans who attended the game can go to Rosie's Cantina in Downtown Florence to get a free cup of queso. Fans must show proof of attendance to retrieve.
COMING UP NEXT
UNA closes non-conference play on Sunday, Dec. 22 at Loyola Marymount. Tipoff is set for 6 p.m. CT in Los Angeles, California.
For more information on North Alabama Athletics, visit www.roarlions.com and follow UNA Athletics on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
