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UNA HOLDS OFF TIGERS FOR 99-93 VICTORY
LAKELAND, Fla., – Kenny Johnson
scored 23 points and dished out eight assists to lead the University
of North Alabama men’s basketball team to a 99-93 overtime win over
Ouachita Baptist Sunday evening in the semi-finals of the South
Regional Tournament in Lakeland, Fla.
For the second
straight night, the Lions overcame a deficit in the closing minutes
to pull out the win, this time rallying from a seven-point hole to
tie the game at 82-82 at the end of regulation. UNA (26-8) outscored
the Tigers 17-11 in the extra period to advance to its ninth
regional championship game.
The Lions hold
a 7-1 record in regional title games and are now 29-10 all-time in
the NCAA Tournament.
UNA trailed
80-73 with 1:40 remaining before Johnson connected on a
three-pointer to cut the lead to four. The Tigers had an 82-79 lead
when another three-pointer by Quinn Beckwith tied the score with 14
seconds remaining and sent the game into overtime.
Less than 24
hours prior to the game, the Lions rallied from a 12-point deficit
to knock off Christian Brothers in the opening round. Against OBU,
the tables appeared to be turned. UNA led 67-55 with 11:17 remaining
before the Tigers used a 20-2 run to take a six-point lead with
under five minutes to play.
After Johnson’s
three-pointer, UNA got a lay-up from Andrew Chesney to make the
score 80-78 with 1:15 remaining. A free throw by the Lions and two
foul shots by OBU’s Jaranimo Marks made the score 82-19 to set up
Beckwith’s game-tying shot.
In the extra
period, the two teams traded baskets early before the Lions took the
lead for good on a steal and dunk by Isaac Gay. Johnson hit five
straight free throws in the closing seconds to seal the win.
Six players
reached double digits in scoring for the Lions. Gay scored 19 points
on the night, with Casey Holt adding 17 and Beckwith tossing in 14
for UNA.
Thomas Fraise
and Chesney rounded out the teams top scorers with 13 and 11 points
respectively.
The Lions will
play the region’s second-seeded Benedict on Tuesday with the winner
advancing to the NCAA Elite Eight the following week in Springfield,
Mass. Benedict (28-4) defeated third-seeded Tampa 73-59 in the other
semi-final game on Sunday. Tip-off time for the regional final is
set for 6 p.m. CST on the campus of Florida Southern College.
PRINTABLE GAME
STATISTICS - SOUTH REGIONAL - OUACHITA BAPTIST |
