FORT MYERS, Fla. (January 9, 2025) – For the third time in three seasons, North Alabama and Florida Gulf Coast played to the wire. The Lions won the first two of those meetings but were unable to finish the trifecta, as FGCU escaped with a 75-70 win in Atlantic Sun Conference play on Thursday in Fort Myers, Fla.
The Lions (10-6, 2-1 ASUN) tied the game at 69-69 with roughly two minutes to go, and that score carried into the final minute. Senior
Taye Fields, who nearly completed a triple-double, had a go-ahead free throw with 49 seconds left.
However, FGCU (7-9, 2-1 ASUN) took the lead back with 31 seconds to go after Jevin Muniz made a go-ahead layup. The Lions had an opportunity to win near the buzzer, but a pair of costly turnovers allowed FGCU to ice the game.
Thursday's game was full of dramatics and highlights, including 10 lead changes and seven tied scores. With the win, FGCU prevented UNA from its first 3-0 start in conference play since 2011.
Junior guard
Jacari Lane had a game-high 22 points, while senior
Daniel Ortiz added 17 points. The pair combined for 8-20 shooting behind the arc. Fields impressed with nine points, 10 rebounds and eight assists to match his season high.
FGCU had four in double figures led by Muniz with 21 points.
HOW IT HAPPENED
First Half: FGCU jumped out to a quick 7-0 lead, but a stepback triple by Lane sparked a 7-0 run by the Lions capped by a dunk from redshirt sophomore
Corneilous Williams. The Lions took their first lead at the 14:35 mark on a three-pointer by Ortiz to make it 13-12. FGCU then went on an 11-0 run and forced UNA into a scoring drought to briefly lead by double digits. Down 34-24 with 5:18 to go, UNA went on a 15-0 run to flip to a five-point lead. The run ended with a ripped ball by Lane that landed in the hands of Fields, who broke down court and passed it back to Lane for an open trey. UNA had seven turnovers in the first half but had four steals. Lane finished with 13 in the frame.
Second Half: The Eagles flipped the lead to 45-44 at the first media timeout of the second half, resulting in the sixth lead change. UNA caught fire by the next media break, hitting four straight field goals to go up 55-51. In what felt like the inevitable, the two sides ended up tied heading to the final minute — courtesy of a game-tying three-pointer by Ortiz from the corner with 2:18 to go. Fields gave UNA the lead with 49 seconds to go with a free throw, making it 70-69 to match last year's thrilling result. FGCU's Muniz made a layup with 31 seconds to go, giving UNA a chance to win it with a near-equal shot clock. However, the Lions were stripped under the goal and FGCU was able to avoid a travel call and get a timeout with 5.9 seconds to go. Muniz made both free throws. Fields attempted a baseball pass to Lane for a potential game-tying three but stepped on the line as he threw it in for a turnover. Muniz iced the game after that.
INSIDE THE NUMBERS
- The last three meetings between UNA and FGCU came down to the final possession. The Lions won 87-85 on the road in 2023 and 70-69 at home in 2024.
- Jacari Lane is averaging 21.3 PPG in three games against FGCU. Daniel Ortiz has enjoyed similar success, averaging 19.2 PPG vs. the Eagles.
- Lane scored 20 or more points for the 16th time in his career and fifth time this season.
- Tonight marks just the second time this season UNA has lost after taking a lead at halftime. The other loss was at Northwestern State.
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Tonight's loss is just the second time UNA has scored 70 or more points in a defeat. The other was a 97-96 overtime loss to Samford.
- Shooting numbers were fairly even, as the Lions went 25-56 from the floor for 45 percent. FGCU shot 28-64 for 44 percent.
- UNA went 10-26 behind the arc, marking the first loss this season in a game where UNA made 10 or more triples. The Lions are now 5-1 when making at least nine three-pointers.
- FGCU won the boards 35-31 and the paint 36-26.
- Both teams had 11 assists.
- Facing another strong ball protecting team, UNA had a rare loss in the turnover battle 13-11.
- The Lions had seven steals, including two each from Lane, Fields and Ortiz. Junior Donte Bacchus had the other.
- Fields led with a pair of blocks. Lane and Bacchus also had one, while center Israel Jenrette stuffed a shot near the free throw line in the first half.
COMING UP NEXT
The Lions will battle Stetson on Saturday at 3 p.m. in DeLand, Fla.
For more information on North Alabama Athletics, visit www.roarlions.com and follow UNA Athletics on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
