FLORENCE, Ala. (February 1, 2024) – The University of North Alabama men's basketball team can officially claim its first winning streak of the season, as the Lions defeated Stetson by a 79-72 final inside CB&S Bank Arena in Florence for their third win in a row.
The game did not start as well as it ended, as the Hatters jumped out to an early 16-4 lead. UNA chipped away to make it 35-31 at halftime and later took its first lead early in the second half. Stetson went back up by as many as eight, but a 9-0 run late in the second half flipped it back to UNA.
The final lead came thanks to a familiar hero, as junior forward
Dallas Howell sank back-to-back-to-back three-pointers to turn a 63-62 deficit into a 71-65 lead.
Senior forward
Damian Forrest — UNA's leading scorer for the game — made two baskets to stretch the lead. Sophomore guard
Jacari Lane — UNA's leading scorer for the season — sank free throws to ice it.
The win pulls UNA even in the Atlantic Sun Conference standings with a 4-4 record, which is tied for fifth in the league. Stetson remains among the top three teams in the standings with a 5-3 ASUN record.
Forrest led the Lions with 19 points and eight rebounds, while graduate forward
Tim Smith Jr. added 16 points and 10 rebounds for his third double-double of the season. Howell added 14 points and Lane chipped in 11 to give UNA four players in double figures. Lane and fellow guard
KJ Johnson combined for nine assists, while Johnson added eight points.
Stetson was led by Stephan Swenson with 19 points and Aubin Gateretse with 17 points and 11 rebounds. Leading scorer Jalen Blackmon was held below his season average, finishing with 15 points.
HOW IT HAPPENED
First Half: After starting in a 4-4 tie, the Hatters went on a 12-0 run to build a double-digit lead. Midway through the first half, UNA trailed 24-11 for the largest deficit but went on a 7-0 run to make it 24-18 with 7:56 on the clock. As Stetson's shooting percentage came back down to earth to settle at an even 50 percent, UNA's began to rise to 41.9 and the score sat at 35-31. Seven Lions scored in the half led by Forrest with nine. Smith had seven rebounds.
Second Half: Johnson got the Lions going in the second half, pulling UNA within two on a pair on successful and-one baskets and another layup, to boot. Shortly after, a putback by Smith and a layup by Forrest put UNA in the lead for the first time all game — 45-43. Stetson went back ahead by as many as eight, but the Lions finished a 9-0 run to take the lead on a four-point play by Smith. Down 63-62 at the 4:00 mark, Saturday's hero — Howell — pulled more of his CB&S Bank Arena magic with a go-ahead three-pointer. This gave UNA the lead for good, as the Lions completed their fifth second-half comeback of the season.
INSIDE THE NUMBERS
- UNA has won five games where it trailed at halftime.
- There were nine lead changes and seven tied scores. Eight of the nine lead changes came in the second half alone.
- UNA shot exactly 50 percent from the field tonight and has a 4-1 record when doing so this season. The Lions went 31-62 for the game, including 18-31 in the second half.
- Stetson shot 15-30 in the first half but was limited to 14-36 in the second half to finish the game 29-66 for 43.9 percent.
- UNA had a 42-36 advantage in the paint.
- UNA won the boards 37-34.
- UNA allowed just two fast break points all game.
- UNA had a distinct 21-4 advantage in bench scoring, thanks to 14 from Howell, five from Josiah Fulcher and two from Canin Jefferson.
- UNA shot 7-19 behind the arc for 36.8 percent, led by Howell with a 4-9 showing and Smith going 2-4. Lane had the other triple.
- Tonight's win snaps a three-game skid in the all-time series against Stetson. Prior to tonight, UNA's last win in the series came in 2021.
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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.
COMING UP NEXT
UNA ends a three-game home stand on Saturday against Florida Gulf Coast University. Tipoff is set for 7:15 p.m. inside CB&S Bank Arena. Saturday will be First Responder's Night, which will include a special first responders basketball game at halftime.
For more information on North Alabama Athletics, visit www.roarlions.com and follow UNA Athletics on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
