NASHVILLE, Tenn. (February 20, 2025) – The North Alabama men's basketball team saw a six-game winning streak come to a close on Thursday in Nashville, as a slow first half resulted in a 75-63 loss to Lipscomb inside Allen Arena.
Despite the loss, UNA remains in a tie for first in the Atlantic Sun Conference with Lipscomb. Both teams are 20-9 overall and 12-4 in the ASUN. EKU and FGCU are both one game back in a tie for third at 11-5.
The Bisons shot 50 percent and made 11 three-pointers behind the arc, taking a 40-26 lead at halftime. The Lions had spurts in the second half, including a late 6-0 run to make it interesting, but went cold in the final three minutes. Lipscomb did not score a field goal in the final 5:22 but were sound defensively.
Junior guard
Jacari Lane led the Lions with 18 points, while senior
Taye Fields added 13 with a game-high four blocks on the defensive end. Junior
Donte Bacchus scored 12 points and led the Lions with seven rebounds.
Four Bisons posted double figures, led by all-conference talent Jacob Ognacevic with 21 points and eight rebounds. Senior Will Pruitt added 18 with six boards.
HOW IT HAPPENED
First Half: Lipscomb was the early aggressor on its home court, taking a 14-5 lead at the first media timeout. The Bisons led the entire half, taking a 40-26 lead into the break. Six field goals, including three triples, separated the two, but the Lions stayed in striking distance with a combined 17 points from
Taye Fields and
Jacari Lane.
Second Half: The Lions began the second half shooting above 60 percent, but Lipscomb's three-point shooting kept the home team ahead. The Lions trailed 56-37 at one point but later cut it to 10 at 71-61 at the 3:50 mark. Scoring slowed down both ways after that, as Lipscomb milked the clock and held strong.
INSIDE THE NUMBERS
- UNA met its season average of nine turnovers, which ranks second in the nation. However, seven of those came in the first half.
- Lipscomb shot 28-56 for 50 percent despite missing the final six attempts. The Lions shot 22-52 for 42 percent.
- UNA shot 14-17 at the line with four makes each from Lane, Fields and Bacchus. The latter two were perfect at the line.
- All of Lipscomb's scoring came from its starters. UNA scored 15 off the bench.
- For the first time in 10 games, UNA had less than four players in double figures.
COMING UP NEXT
The Lions will play their final road game of the regular season at Central Arkansas on Monday, Feb. 24 at 6:30 p.m. in Conway, Ark.
For more information on North Alabama Athletics, visit www.roarlions.com and follow UNA Athletics on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
