FLORENCE, Ala. (February 17, 2026) – The University of North Alabama men's basketball team will wind down a four-game home stand on Wednesday as the Lions welcome Queens to CB&S Bank Arena inside Flowers Hall at 6 p.m.
The Lions are coming off one of the most historic wins in program history, defeating EKU by an 84-78 final in front of 2,815 fans in CB&S Bank Arena and in front of a national audience on ESPNU. This was the first nationally-televised home basketball game on a linear network in UNA's history.
This will be the penultimate home game for UNA this regular season, as Bellarmine will be the final opponent to visit Florence next Wednesday, Feb. 25.
Wednesday's game will air on ESPN+ with "Voice of the Lions"
Benjamin Ray and
Mike Ezekiel on the call. Fans can also tune into
Roar Lions Productions to listen to Bryan Neece via audio. Coverage will begin at 5:40 p.m. with the Countdown to Tipoff.
Tickets are available
at this link or by calling the ticket office at 256-765-5466.
Fans are encouraged to arrive early for the game, as parking is limited due to ongoing construction. As such, the lot near the Hal Self Athletic Annex will be unavailable. Violators will be towed if parked in the construction zone.
Lots A and B will be in the parking lot directly below Flowers Hall. Lot A pass holders will have coned off spots near the staircase. Shuttles will be available to take fans up to the field house lot for entry into CB&S Bank Arena.
Lot C parking will be in the parking lot below the Mitchell Burford Science and Technology Building. Residential Students will have access into Lot C with their hang tags. The public can also park in this lot for $12.
Limited handicap parking will be available in front of the CB&S Bank Arena ticket office.
Due to worship services, the College View Church of Christ parking lot will be unavailable for Wednesday's game. Fans are welcome to park at College View for sporting events except on Sundays and Wednesdays. Students, faculty and staff can park in the designated area Monday-Friday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
GAME INFORMATION
Game: North Alabama vs. Queens
Date: Wednesday, February 18
Time: 6 p.m.
Location: Florence, Ala.
Venue: CB&S Bank Arena at Flowers Hall
Capacity: 3,000
Game Sponsor: Coca-Cola
Promotions: Shoals Stars, Youth League Sport Night, Mugshots Burger Challenge
Watch:
ESPN+
Radio:
Roar Lions Productions
Live Stats:
StatBroadcast
Tickets:
Click Here
Game Notes:
Click Here
Social Media:
@UNA_Basketball
NOTES
LAST TIME OUT: Hosting a nationally televised basketball game on an ESPN linear network for the first time in school history, UNA made the most of the spotlight and pulled out a thrilling 84-78 overtime win over Eastern Kentucky inside CB&S Bank Arena in Florence. The crowd of 2,815 and the national audience was treated to a thriller, as the lead changed 16 games and the game went to overtime. The Lions shot 11-14 from the free throw line in overtime to aid the win.
TOP PERFORMERS ON ESPNU: Sophomore
Kevin de Kovachich scored 18 points and hit the biggest shot of the night with 38 seconds to go, putting UNA ahead 68-66 in regulation. Senior
Donte Bacchus led the way with 21 points, while redshirt junior
Corneilous Williams had 16 points and 15 rebounds. Sixth-year senior
Dallas Howell and true freshman
Cortez Graham-Howard had major moments and both had 11 points and six rebounds.
SCOUTING THE LIONS: With four games remaining in the regular season, the Lions have an opportunity to improve their 3-11 record in ASUN play and carry momentum into the ASUN Championship tournament in March. All 12 teams will make the tournament this season. The Lions are just two games out of eighth place and three games back from fifth. Bacchus continues to lead the Lions with 15.3 PPG and 16.7 PPG in league play.
SCOUTING THE ROYALS: Queens is 15-12 overall and 10-4 in conference play, enjoying one of the best seasons in the program's short Division I history so far. The Royals will have at least 15 wins for the third time since the move to Division I in 2022. Queens is currently third in the standings and is vying for one of the top four seeds in the upcoming ASUN Championship at VyStar Veterans Memorial Arena in Jacksonville. The Royals are led by five starters in double figure scoring, led by senior guard Nasir Mann with 12.7 PPG. Grant Leonard is in his fourth season as the head coach with a 67-61 record.
SERIES HISTORY: Queens has a slight 3-2 advantage in the all-time series following an 87-62 win in Charlotte last month. The home team has won each game in the series. The last time Queens visited UNA was February 26, 2025 as UNA won 74-69 to clinch a share of the ASUN Regular Season Championship. This was also
Tony Pujol's 100th win as a head coach.
NOTES FROM THE LAST MEETING: Four Lions scored in double figures the last time UNA played Queens — a visit to Charlotte on Jan. 21. UNA trailed just 56-51 with 11:06 remaining, but the Royals went on a scoring surge in the final 10 minutes to pull away. 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.
SENIOR SCORER: Donte Bacchus has scored 20 or more points in seven games this season, including five of the last seven games. He ranks ninth in the conference with his 15.3 PPG and ranks seventh in ASUN games with 16.7 PPG. He had 21 points to lead the way against EKU.
BACK TO FORM: Corneilous Williams led the ASUN in rebounding last season and has led the league for almost the entirety of this season. Williams has only entered four games this year without being the ASUN's leading rebounder. He is currently tied with Shelton Williams-Dryden of West Georgia with 9.5 RPG.
SIXTH-YEAR SENIOR: Dallas Howell is the longest-tenured member of the program with six seasons at UNA, including a COVID-19 season and an injury redshirt last season. He is one just seven players in Division to play for six seasons, but he is the only one to play all six at the same school. The other schools with a sixth-year player include Oklahoma, Iowa State, USC, Texas, Bowling Green and Tarleton State.
STAYING OUT OF FOUL TROUBLE: UNA currently ranks 23rd in the country with only 15.0 fouls per game. The top mark is only 12.1 fouls per game by South Alabama. On Sunday, the Lions did go above average with 18 fouls but was able to go to the line 46 times on 28 fouls from EKU.
SHOWING UP: UNA looks to lead the ASUN in average attendance for a second straight season, currently averaging 2,343 fans per game. The Lions averaged 2,367 fans per game last season, ranking ahead of FGCU and Lipscomb in second and third, respectively.
For more information on North Alabama Athletics, visit www.roarlions.com and follow UNA Athletics on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
