CHARLOTTE, N.C. (January 21, 2026) – The University of North Alabama men's basketball team played a tight game for over 30 minutes against the last unbeaten team in the Atlantic Sun Conference, but the Lions slipped in the fourth portion of the game in an 87-62 loss to Queens on Wednesday in Charlotte, N.C.
The Lions (6-12, 1-6 ASUN) fought back from a double-digit deficit with a hearty stretch, making it a five-point game at 56-51 with 11:06 remaining.
However, Queens (12-8, 7-0 ASUN) ran away late in the second half to extend its win streak to seven — the longest active streak in the conference.
Despite the loss, UNA limited the top scoring team in the ASUN to just 3-15 behind the arc. However, Queens scored the majority of its points in the paint and made 21 straight free throws to finish 24-25 at the line.
Turnovers were detrimental to UNA, who ranks 64th in the NCAA in fewest turnovers with only 10.5 per game. There were 16 turnovers tonight, leading to 25 points off turnovers for Queens.
UNA used a different lineup for just the fourth time this season, as sophomore DarKaun King and true freshman Braylon Patton got their first career starts. Patton finished with 10 points, four rebounds, three assists and had his first career dunk.
Sophomore Kevin de Kovachich led the Lions with 15 points, including a perfect 10-10 from the free throw line. Redshirt junior Corneilous Williams added 12 points and five rebounds, while junior Canin Jefferson added 11 points.
Jordan Watford and Yoav Berman were the sparkplugs for Queens with a combined 53 points.
HOW IT HAPPENED
First Half: The first 12 points of the game came from the paint, as both teams rode a couple of their top forwards with Corneilous Williams and Queens' Yoav Berman scoring the first 10 points of the game. Queens began to pull ahead with a 13-2 run between the under 12:00 and under 8:00 media timeouts, shooting 75 percent from the floor at that point with only five points coming outside the paint. UNA also shot a high percentage, breaking the run with a Williams dunk and shooting just under 50 percent at that point. This made the score 27-17 at the 8:51 mark. Near the end of the half, UNA went on a 12-2 run to pull back within single digits after trailing by as many as 17 points — 34-17. Playing off the bench for the first time this season, Canin Jefferson got hot with seven points in the run. Dallas Howell ended the run with a triple. UNA shot better from the floor at 48 percent, but Queens took a 42-33 lead at the break behind 10-10 shooting from the free throw line.
Second Half: UNA had a turning point in the second half, trimming the deficit to 54-47 with 13:49 left. The Lions scored eight points on two possessions, as Kevin de Kovachich started it with a steal that lead to a flagrant foul. He sank both free throws, then made a three-pointer on the inbound. Jefferson made a triple on the next possession, as UNA called a quick 30 second timeout to reset. The timeout worked, as the Lions made three stops and got another make from Donte Bacchus to pull within five. Things took a rough turn for UNA after that, as a 11-0 run by Queens made it 67-51 with 7:54 remaining. Both teams played out the stretch, as redshirt freshman King Walker played the final four minutes and had a rebound and steal.
COMING UP NEXT
Due to the incoming winter storms, UNA will not play this weekend. The next scheduled game will be Thursday, Jan. 29 at FGCU. Tipoff is set for 6 p.m. CT.
For more information on North Alabama Athletics, visit www.roarlions.com and follow UNA Athletics on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
