FLORENCE, Ala. (January 4, 2025) – The message has been sent.
The North Alabama men's basketball program has high expectations in the Atlantic Sun Conference this season. The evidence for UNA as a contender is hard to deny, as the Lions capped a 2-0 start to ASUN play with an 88-67 statement win over defending regular season champion Eastern Kentucky on Saturday inside CB&S Bank Arena.
UNA (10-5, 2-0 ASUN) is one of just three teams that are still undefeated in league play after the first weekend, joining Lipscomb and Queens. The Lions are also off to their first 2-0 start in league play since the 2012-13 season — marking the best start of the young Division I era.
Eastern Kentucky (7-8, 1-1) had the first score of the game, but it was instantly erased by a
Jacari Lane layup and a
Will Soucie three-pointer. The Colonels never led again, marking the second straight game UNA has led or tied for at least 39 minutes.
Five Lions scored in double figures and three recorded double-doubles. Fifth-year senior
Will Soucie and sophomore
Canin Jefferson had a game-high 18 points, as Jefferson set a new career-high. Soucie, who reached a season-high in scoring, hit four triples.
Redshirt sophomore
Corneilous Williams had his fourth double-double of the season with 15 points and 11 rebounds, while senior
Taye Fields notched his second with 11 points and a game-high 14 boards. Fields was also the team's assist leader with seven and led the team with a +27 plus-minus rating. He also had a highlight reel-worthy dunk in the first half.
Rounding out the double-double trio was junior Dante Bacchus with 12 points and 10 rebounds. This tied his season-high in rebounding last set against Samford on Nov. 15.
Junior guard
Jacari Lane, an early contender for the Lou Henson Mid-Major Player of the Year award, added nine points and five assists. More importantly, Lane did not have a turnover for the second straight game, giving him a 15/0 assist-turnover ratio over the first two ASUN games.
Two other Lions made the scorebook, as senior
Daniel Ortiz had a late three in the first half to secure momentum. True freshman
DarKaun King had a first half basket on his lone attempt, scoring his first points inside CB&S Bank Arena.
As a team, UNA finished with a season-high 52 rebounds.
EKU was led by 15 points from multi-time all-conference guard Devontae Blanton.
HOW IT HAPPENED
First Half: UNA took a 20-9 lead at the 14:07 mark on a layup by Williams, then later doubled a 10-point lead on an 11-0 run with 5:55 remaining. Jefferson had six of the 11 points in that run, as UNA rode the hot hand. In the final minute, Jefferson had a steal that turned into a Bacchus layup. Jefferson then rebounded EKU's final attempt, which turned into a three-pointer by Ortiz near the halftime buzzer to make it 50-29. EKU missed its first 11 three-pointers and finished 1-13 behind the arc in the first half. The Lions shot 18-38 for 47 percent.
Second Half: The second half was even, as the Lions maintained the 21-point lead. The Colonels almost got back within single digits at the 9:47 mark, as a Blanton triple and a two-pointer by Jackson Holt made it 66-56. Over the next four minutes, UNA proceeded on a 10-0 run that ended with back-to-back dunks from Williams within 20 seconds. UNA led by as many as 26 points in the final four minutes.
INSIDE THE NUMBERS
- The last time UNA started 2-0 in conference play came in 2012-13 as a member of NCAA Division II and the Gulf South Conference. The Lions beat West Florida and Valdosta State in back-to-back home games.
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UNA has won back-to-back ASUN games by double-digits following Thursday's 82-66 win over Bellarmine and tonight's win over EKU. The last time UNA accomplished back-to-back double-digit win margins in ASUN play was Feb. 11-16, 2023 with wins over Lipscomb (80-70) and Bellarmine (70-57).
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The Lions dominated the boards 52-32. This includes a 33-21 advantage on the defensive glass.
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The 52 rebounds are the most UNA has had against an ASUN opponent since March 4, 2019 against North Florida.
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Tonight was a rare night UNA lost the turnover battle, as EKU had a 10-6 advantage. The six turnovers are the lowest by a UNA opponent this season. However, both teams had eight points off turnovers.
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UNA had 32 points off the bench, led by the 18 from Jefferson.
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UNA had a 44-32 advantage in paint scoring.
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The Lions totaled 17 assists — the third-most as a unit this season behind a non-Division I game against Dalton State (23) and the overtime game with Samford (19).
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The Lions are now 10-1 when scoring at least 70 points and 10-0 when allowing under 70 points.
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UNA is now 7-1 at home this season and 57-27 in home games under Tony Pujol since taking over the program in 2018.
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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.
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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 will fly to Florida for the next four games, starting at FGCU on Thursday at 6 p.m. CT.
For more information on North Alabama Athletics, visit www.roarlions.com and follow UNA Athletics on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
