CLARKSVILLE, Tenn. (February 5, 2025) – The North Alabama men's basketball team entered a hostile environment on Wednesday, but the Lions were unfazed.
Fifth-year senior
Will Soucie was one point short of a career-high with 22 and sophomore
Canin Jefferson provided 14 points off the bench, as UNA led the entire way for a 74-64 road win over Austin Peay inside F&M Bank Arena.
The Lions improve to 16-8 overall and 8-3 in the Atlantic Sun Conference, staying in a three-way-tie for second place in the standings. Austin Peay drops to 9-15 and 4-7.
Soucie set the tone with a three-pointer in the opening minute, then the Lions proceeded to a double digit lead within the first seven minutes. Soucie finished an impressive 8-11 from the field and 2-2 behind the arc.
Four Lions scored in double figures, as Soucie and Jefferson were joined by redshirt sophomore
Corneilous Williams and senior
Daniel Ortiz. Williams had 12 points and 10 rebounds for his sixth double-double. Ortiz added 10.
Senior
Taye Fields had another remarkable game all around, matching the Division I school record with six blocks. He also had 11 rebounds and nine points to flirt with a triple-double. Junior
Jacari Lane had five assists and four steals to impact the game.
Isaac Haney led Austin Peay with 24 points and nine boards.
HOW IT HAPPENED
First Half: Soucie unlocked the scoring with a triple in the first minute, opening a lead that never vanished. The fifth-year senior finished with 14 points to tie Austin Peay's Isaac Haney for the first half game-high. Both teams shot roughly 40 percent, but UNA took the advantage behind the arc with a 5-9 clip. APSU went just 3-13, but two of those three came from Haney in the final 1:12 of the half.
Second Half: Austin Peay cut the lead to seven with 13 minutes left in the second half, but Jefferson and Soucie scored back-to-back to put the lead in double digits for good. Jefferson led all players in the second half with 11 points in 12 minutes, while Soucie finished with eight in the final 20 minutes. UNA shot 41 percent, while Austin Peay shot 31 percent. Both teams made 12 baskets.
INSIDE THE NUMBERS
- Tonight marks the fourth time this season UNA has led wire-to-wire. The other wins are Air Force, Tennessee Tech and Bellarmine.
- UNA is 8-3 in league play for the first time since 2013, where the Lions started 10-3 in the Gulf South Conference.
- UNA went 26-63 for 41.3 percent. APSU shot 25-72 for 34.7 percent.
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UNA went 6-15 behind the arc, but set the tone at 5-9 in the first half.
- Austin Peay had 21 fouls to just 12 for the Lions.
- UNA had a 14-8 advantage in turnovers, including 11 steals.
- Six Lions recorded a steal, led by Lane with four and two from Ortiz and junior Donte Bacchus.
- Tonight was the eighth straight game where UNA had four players in double figures.
- UNA won the paint, outscoring APSU 38-36.
- UNA is 8-3 in league play for the first time since 2013, where the Lions started 10-3 in the Gulf South Conference.
- Tonight was UNA's first win in Clarksville in three tries since moving up to Division I. There were 25 lead changes in the first two games combined, but none tonight.
COMING UP NEXT
The Lions renew a classic rivalry with West Georgia on Saturday, as the former Gulf South Conference foes meet as ASUN opponents for the first time. Tipoff is set for 1 p.m. CT in Carrollton, Ga.
For more information on North Alabama Athletics, visit www.roarlions.com and follow UNA Athletics on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
