FLORENCE, Ala. (January 22, 2025) – For the first time in over two weeks, the North Alabama men's basketball team will play inside CB&S Bank Arena on Thursday when the Lions welcome border rival Lipscomb for a 6 p.m. tip.
 
Thursday's game will be a battle of the two highest-ranked teams in the Atlantic Sun Conference, according to the NCAA NET Rankings. UNA is hosting a "whiteout" as fans are encouraged to wear white on Thursday. It is also Lion Cup Night for UNA student-athletes.
 
On Saturday, the Lions will welcome another Tennessee foe — Austin Peay. This game will also tip at 6 p.m. This game will be Shoals Stars Night and Manufacturing Night.

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.
 
GAME 1 INFORMATION
Game: North Alabama vs. Lipscomb
Date: Thursday, January 23
Time: 6:00 p.m.
Location: Florence, Alabama
Venue: CB&S Bank Arena
Capacity: 3,000
Promotions: "Whiteout" and Lion Cup Night
Game Sponsor: TriGreen Equipment
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
 
GAME 2 INFORMATION
Game: North Alabama vs. Austin Peay
Date: Saturday, January 25
Time: 6:00 p.m.
Location: Florence, Alabama
Venue: CB&S Bank Arena
Capacity: 3,000
Promotions: Shoals Stars Night / Manufacturing Night
Game Sponsor: Marriott Shoals
Watch: ESPN+ ("Voice of the Lions" Benjamin Ray, Matt Daniels, Chase Glover)
Radio: WLX 98.3 & 103.5 FM (Bryan Neece)
Live Stats: StatBroadcast
Tickets: Click Here
Game Notes: Available Friday
Social Media: @UNA_Basketball
 

NOTES

LAST TIME OUT: UNA completed a two-week road swing in Florida this past weekend, ending the trip with a 90-84 victory over North Florida in Jacksonville. UNA trailed by 10 in the first half but later led by 17 in the second half. North Florida mounted a comeback and pulled within two points, but Taye Fields played hero with a layup to make it 86-82 with 17 second to go. He and Jacari Lane iced the game with free throws. Both Lane and Fields flirted with a triple double, combining for 34 points, 19 rebounds and 16 assists. Donte Bacchus went 9-9 from the field to finish with a season-high 21 points.
 
SCOUTING THE LIONS: North Alabama brings a 12-7 record into the week with a 4-2 record in ASUN play. The Lions are one game behind a four-way tie for first in the standings through six games. UNA has the second-best scoring margin in ASUN play behind Lipscomb at +10.3, scoring 80.3 points per game and allowing 70.0 PPG. UNA is also tied with Queens for first in the league with 40.5 rebounds per game in ASUN play, while sitting alone in first with a 1.66 assist-turnover ratio. UNA has the top two rebounders in the league in Taye Fields (8.3. RPG) and Corneilous Williams (8.1 RPG).
 
SCOUTING THE BISONS: Lipscomb is the top-ranked team in the ASUN according to the NCAA Net Rankings (75), KenPom (77) and Massey Ratings (126). The Bisons, who enter 13-6 overall, tied UNA for the best non-conference record at 8-5 and are tied atop the league standings at 5-1. Lipscomb's only loss in conference play so far was a 75-73 defeat against Queens. Lipscomb is averaging 83.3 PPG in ASUN play with just 64.0 PPG allowed — both of which rank second in the league. Lipscomb is the top shooting team in the league with a 53.3 shooting percentage the last six games, led by reigning ASUN Player of the Week Jacob Ognacevic at 18.9 PPG. Ognacevic is also third in rebounding behind Fields and Williams at 7.9 RPG.
 
SERIES HISTORY VS. LIPSCOMB: UNA and Lipscomb have played 80 times since 1931 — back when the Lions were coached by UNA Hall of Famer Eddie Flowers. The Bisons have a 50-30 record against UNA all-time and are 7-5 since UNA's move to Division I in 2018. However, UNA has won three of the last four meetings, including the last two in Florence. The most recent meeting grabbed national headlines, as KJ Johnson hit a buzzer beater to defeat Lipscomb 77-75 in the ASUN Quarterfinals in Nashville.
 
FAMILIAR FOE: Lipscomb is led by former Alabama-Huntsville head coach Lennie Acuff. Since 1997, Acuff has coached 54 games against UNA with a 33-21 record. Acuff went 28-16 against the Lions while at UAH, but is an even 5-5 since taking the Lipscomb job in 2019.
 
SCOUTING THE GOVERNORS: Austin Peay is 7-12 overall and 2-4 in ASUN play, including strong non-conference wins over Butler, Chattanooga and Georgia State. The Govs defeated North Florida in their ASUN opener, but lost three straight to Jacksonville, West Georgia and Queens. Last week, APSU won a 97-90 overtime thriller against EKU, but fell 88-60 to Lipscomb. Austin Peay is the lowest-scoring team in the ASUN at 66.9 PPG while allowing 72.9 PPG. The Govs are led by LJ Thomas with 15.2 PPG and reigning ASUN Newcomer of the Week Tate McCubbin with 9.5 PPG, including 38 points in the win over EKU.
 
SERIES HISTORY VS. AUSTIN PEAY: Austin Peay leads the all-time series with a 24-6 record against UNA. However, only four of those meetings have happened since 1963. Austin Peay has won the last three meetings, including a three-game season sweep last season in the regular season and ASUN Championship. The two played in the semifinal round last season, with Austin Peay winning 77-71 in a game that had 24 lead changes. UNA's last win came at home on Feb. 9, 2023.
 
WATCH OUT FOR LANE: Junior guard Jacari Lane was named to the Lou Henson Early Season Watch List, an award given to the top mid-major basketball player each season. Lane has also won ASUN Player of the Week three times this season, including the final two of non-conference play. He is averaging 15.9 PPG and is the only remaining first team All-ASUN selection back in the league this year.
 
MOVING UP THE LIST: Last week at North Florida, Lane moved past UNA Hall of Famer Tommy Ledbetter (1969-71) and Don Shotts (1953-56) on the all-time scoring list at North Alabama with 1,192 career points. Lane is now 14th behind Greg Tyon (1981-84) and UNA Hall of Famer Don Faint (1968-71) who are both just above 1,200 career points.
 
MILESTONE MEN: Three Lions have met milestones this season, including Lane and senior guard Daniel Ortiz scoring their 1,000th career point at UNA. Another rare feat was accomplished against Charleston Southern, as senior transfer Taye Fields scored his 1,000th career point in his 100th career game. Fields spent three seasons at Division II Missouri Western and earned All-MIAA honors for two seasons.
 
CAREER GUY: Fifth-year senior Will Soucie is the all-time leader in career games for UNA with 135 appearances. He has 957 career points entering the week, as he hopes to become the 30th player to reach 1,000 career points at UNA. He is having a career season with 10.4 PPG.

THE MAGIC NUMBER IS 70: UNA is 12-2 when scoring at least 70 points and 0-5 when scoring under 70 points. Defensively, the Lions hare 11-1 when giving up 70 points or less. UNA is 1-6 when allowing more than 70 points in a game with the only win coming Saturday at North Florida.

TURNOVER TAKEOVER: UNA has the 10th fewest turnovers per game in the NCAA with just 9.5 per game. Only 18 teams of 364 in the NCAA can claim fewer than 10 turnovers per game. The Lions also rank 39th with a +3.1 turnover margin.

ON DECK: Next week, UNA will play at Queens on Wednesday, Jan. 29, then will return home to host Central Arkansas on Saturday, Feb. 1 at 7:45 p.m.

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