FLORENCE, Ala. (January 3, 2026) – The University of North Alabama men's basketball team cut a double-digit deficit to four in the second half, but the Lions could not keep pace in a 72-55 loss to FGCU in Atlantic Sun Conference action on Saturday inside CB&S Bank Arena.
The Lions (5-8, 0-2 ASUN) were without leading rebounder and second-leading scorer
Corneilous Williams due to illness. Redshirt senior
Jamal Albritton got the nod to start in his place at center — the first start of his UNA career. He finished with six rebounds.
Shots were not falling for either team early on, but FGCU (7-8, 1-1 ASUN) began to jump ahead in the first half and took a double-digit lead into the break. UNA cut what was a 12-point deficit into a 53-49 game after sophomore
DarKaun King made a three-pointer with 9:21 to go.
The Eagles answered King's three with one of their own and held a steady lead until pulling ahead further in the final minutes. The Lions were hindered at this point by junior guard
Canin Jefferson's fifth foul, as he left the game with 3:20 to go owning a team-high 14 points and a career-high six steals.
Senior
Donte Bacchus chipped in 13 points and led with nine rebounds, while sophomore
Kevin de Kovachich added 10 points. King added 11 points for a new career-high.
One area of struggle in the second half was free throw shooting, as the Lions finished 18-27 from the line. UNA made 16 of the first 17 free throw attempts before hitting a cold spell in the final 6:25. However, UNA helped itself stay alive by only allowing nine trips to the line for FGCU.
FGCU was led by Rahmir Barno with 14 points to tie Jefferson for the game high.
HOW IT HAPPENED
First Half: Three-pointers were somewhat rare to come by in the first half, but FGCU jumped out to an early 18-6 lead with successful inside shooting. The Lions slowly chipped away and pulled within six behind a successful and-one and two made free throws on the next possession for
Canin Jefferson. He also converted an and-one to end UNA's first half scoring, down 33-23. FGCU had a 25-15 advantage on the boards, as UNA was unable to grab any offensive boards. However, the Lions scored 10 of their points in the paint.
Second Half: UNA chipped away at the deficit pulling within two possessions multiple times in the second half. FGCU was able to get the lead back to 12 with 12:04 to go — 51-39. The Lions, however, got a pair of three-pointers from
DarKaun King — among other scores — to dwindle it back to 53-49. FGCU began to pull away again in the final five minutes, as eight missed free throws loomed large. King led the team in second half scoring with nine points.
INSIDE THE NUMBERS
- UNA continues to lead the all-time series 8-7.
- This marks FGCU's first-ever win in Florence. The Eagles were previously 0-4 in CB&S Bank Arena with losses in 2004, 2019, 2020 and 2024.
- This weekend marks the first back-to-back home conference losses for UNA since 2023.
- FGCU won the paint 28-22 and had a 43-29 advantage in rebounding.
- The Lions had advantages in points off turnovers (14-9) and on fast breaks (9-6).
COMING UP NEXT
The Lions head to Kentucky next week for matchups at EKU and Bellarmine. UNA battles the Colonels on Thursday, Jan. 8 at 6 p.m. and then the Knights on Saturday, Jan. 10 at 1 p.m.
For more information on North Alabama Athletics, visit www.roarlions.com and follow UNA Athletics on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
