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SOUTHAVEN, Miss. – The University of North
Alabama built a nine-point halftime lead and rolled to an
18-point 87-69 win over Arkansas-Monticello in the
quarterfinal round of the Gulf South Conference Men’s
Basketball Tournament.
Six Lions scored in
double-figures in the balanced attack, led by Quinn Beckwith
with 18 points.
The Lions led 55-46 at intermission, then outscored the Boll
Weevils 32-23 over the final 20 minutes.
In recording their ninth win in a row, the Lions improved to
24-7 overall and will face the winner of the West
Georgia-Christian Brothers game on Saturday in the
semifinals at 7:30 p.m.
Following Beckwith in
double-figures was Thomas Fraise with 16, Isaac Gay with 15,
Kenny Johnson with 12 and Casey Holt and Andrew Chesney with
11 each.
Holt also led UNA on the
boards with 15 rebounds as the Lions out-rebounded UAM
54-43.
UNA came out of the gate
quick and built a lead behind a pair of long-range
three-pointers from Beckwith. The Lions extended their lead
to as many as 17 points before a late UAM stretch closed it
to nine points at the half.
North Alabama came out quick in the second half as well
behind Fraise whose three-pointer put the lead back in
double-digits for good.
UNA shot 38 percent from the
floor in the game, hitting 32 of 83 shots. The Lions made 10
three-point baskets to just five for UAM.
The Lions are trying to win their sixth GSC men's basketball
title but their first since 1996. |
