NORTH ALABAMA MEN UPSET THIRD RANKED BRAVES (BOX SCORE)

FLORENCE -- The North Alabama men's basketball team has made a habit of knocking off nationally ranked teams at home this season and the Lions did it again Monday night, upsetting third ranked West Georgia 96-83.

UNA downed No.1 ranked Southern Indiana and 14th ranked Kentucky Wesleyan earlier in the season and added West Georgia to the list behind a balanced offense and solid defense.

The Lions improved to 14-12 overall and 6-7 in the Gulf South Conference. The win assures UNA of a spot in next weekend's GSC Tournament in Tupelo, Miss.

UNA built a nine-point lead at the half, 47-38, behind a late surge in the final minutes of the half. In the second half, West Georgia whittled UNA's lead down to two with 7:25 left at 71-69. Pervis Key, Pete Lowe, Reprobatus Bibbs and A.J. Gordon carried the offensive load down the stretch and UNA steadily built its lead back to 13.

Gordon led UNA with 22 points and had eight rebounds. Key had 21, Bibbs 18 and Lowe 13. Jerrell Vinson added 10 rebounds. West Georgia was led by Darnell Miller with 18, followed by Antonio Shaw with 14, Majestic Mapp with 13, Ryan Madry with 12 and Rob Neal with 12.

The Lions made 25 of 37 free throws and hit seven three-pointers. West Georgia was just 5-for-20 from three-point range and shot just 43 percent from the floor.