JACKSONVILLE, Fla. (March 4, 2026) – The University of North Alabama men's basketball team completed its season with a 69-58 loss to FGCU on Wednesday in the first round of the Atlantic Sun Conference Tournament at UNF Arena in Jacksonville, Fla.

The No. 5 Eagles (15-17) will advance to play No. 4 Lipscomb (19-12) in the quarterfinal round at VyStar Veterans Memorial Arena on Friday. The Lions finish the season with a 9-21 record.

Despite matching up with the fifth-seed, the No. 12 Lions held their own until the closing moments. UNA trailed 60-58 with 2:02 remaining, getting a layup from Canin Jefferson to take some momentum back.

The final two minutes did not go in favor of the Lions, as FGCU escaped elimination with a 9-0 run. Prior to that, FGCU did not lead by more than two possessions at any point in the game.

Speaking of slim leads, the game went into six ties and the lead swapped 11 times. UNA's last lead came with 13:06 remaining on a rim-rocking dunk by Cortez Graham-Howard — a true freshman making his postseason debut. The Lions pulled within one or two numerous times after FGCU took back the lead.

Redshirt junior Corneilous Williams and sophomore Kevin de Kovachich scored 11 points to lead the way, while Graham-Howard and sixth-year senior Dallas Howell added nine points. Fellow senior Donte Bacchus added eight points.

The end to a stellar six-year career came today, as Howell played his 128th game as a Lion. He is one of only seven known sixth-year seniors in college basketball this season, but the only one of that group to stay at the same school for all six years without transferring.

FGCU was led by all-conference scorer J.R. Konieczny with 29 points.

As the season draws to a close, UNA finishes as the ASUN leader in attendance for a second straight season with 2,345 fans per game.

For more information on North Alabama Athletics, visit www.roarlions.com and follow UNA Athletics on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.