CONWAY, Ark. (March 1, 2024) – The Atlantic Sun Conference Championship Tournament is set, as the University of North Alabama ended the regular season with an exclamation mark Friday at Central Arkansas, winning 82-78 at Scottie Pippen Court in Conway, Ark.
With the win, North Alabama earns the No. 6 seed for the ASUN Championship to join five other schools with first round byes. While elation took place in the visiting locker room, heartbreak ensued for the home team. Central Arkansas is eliminated from contention with the loss, finishing one spot outside the top 10 to miss the tournament.
The Lions open tournament play on Tuesday, March 5 in Nashville against No. 3 Lipscomb. The winner will advance to the ASUN semifinal set for Thursday, March 7. The ASUN Championship final is set for Sunday, March 10 at 1 p.m. and will air on ESPN2. The highest remaining seeds will host each of those rounds.
UNA trailed for over 26 minutes Friday, but unlike the last meeting where UCA led by 23 points, the Lions stayed within striking distance. Down 45-35 late in the first half, the Lions started the second half hot and chipped away at the deficit. A three-pointer by Dallas Howell and a successful and-one layup by Will Soucie flipped the lead. Soucie hit another three about a minute later to tie it at 57-57, then true freshman Canin Jefferson flipped the lead for good with a fastbreak jumper in the paint.
Down five with 40 seconds to go, Central Arkansas willed its way back into the game with a three-pointer by Daniel Sofield. Trying to keep their season alive, the Bears got another wave of momentum after an offensive foul by KJ Johnson.
Enter Damian Forrest.
The senior forward made back-to-back defensive stops in the paint to keep UNA in the lead, while fellow senior KJ Johnson connected on four free throws in the closing moments to secure a four-point road win.
Soucie and Forrest were the leading scorers for UNA with 18 points apiece while combining for 12 rebounds. Johnson added 15 on 12-11 shooting at the line, while Howell chipped in 12 with three triples and some free throws.
Additionally, with his start tonight, Soucie became the all-time leader in games played for UNA at the Division I level. He has 114 career appearances, passing former teammate Jamari Blackmon who previously held the record. Those two and Detalian Brown are the first three to play in 100 or more Division I games at UNA, with Brown at 111.
UNA had a phenomenal night at the line, going 27-28 as a team with just one missed free throw all game. Forrest, Soucie, Howell, Jefferson and sophomore guard Jacari Lane all went perfect at the line with at least two free throws, including 6-6 for Lane.
Despite the loss, Central Arkansas won the boards by eight and had higher shooting percentages both from the field and behind the arc, but the free throws and two more made triples gave UNA the ultimate advantage.
The game had seven lead changes and both teams had 7-0 runs, but North Alabama led the final stretch and limited UCA's run opportunities.
As the saying goes, "it's not about how you start, but how you finish." The Lions started ASUN play with an 84-81 loss to UCA at home, but avenged that loss in the regular season finale.
Now, the Lions have a chance to finish the story in the postseason. Game time at Lipscomb will be announce in the coming days.
For more information on North Alabama Athletics, visit www.roarlions.com and follow UNA Athletics on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
