KendallStaffordUNF
Joseph Romans
76
Winner North Alabama UNA 9-19, 6-7 ASUN
61
Kennesaw State KSU 5-23, 2-11 ASUN
Winner
North Alabama UNA
9-19, 6-7 ASUN
76
Final
61
Kennesaw State KSU
5-23, 2-11 ASUN
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 F
North Alabama UNA 35 41 76
Kennesaw State KSU 34 27 61

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at Stetson

2/23/2019 | 3 PM

WBCF 97.1

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Feb. 23 (Sat) / 3 PM
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History

Game Recap: Men's Basketball |

LIONS DOWN KSU, CLINCH ASUN TOURNEY BERTH

KENNESAW, Ga., – Kendall Stafford scored 21 points and pulled down 10 rebounds to lead the University of North Alabama men's basketball team to a 76-61 win at Kennesaw State on Wednesday. With the win, UNA clinches a berth in the 2019 ASUN Conference Championships in its first season at the Division I level. With three games remaining in the regular season, the Lions are 9-19 overall and move into a three-way tie for fourth place in the ASUN standings with a 6-7 league record.
 
Stafford, a senior from Corinth, Miss., records his third double-double of the season and second in the last three games. He finished the game 8-of-11 from the floor with four three-point baskets.
 
After trailing throughout most of the first half, UNA took a 35-34 lead into the break on a basket by Stafford with 40 seconds remaining.  The opening half featured six ties and nine lead changes with neither team leading by more than five points.
 
North Alabama used two different runs to take control in the second half. Stafford, Jamari Blackmon and Kendarius Smith each knocked down three-pointers in the first 1:36 of the second half to start a 13-5 run for the Lions. A basket by Smith later gave UNA a 48-39 lead at the 17:18 mark.
 
The Lions held a 58-52 lead midway through the period before using a 14-0 run to stretch the lead to double digits. Three-point shooting again paved the way for UNA during the spurt. The Lions hit four straight treys, including one on the right wing from Aleksa Matic, who was seeing his first action since Jan. 8 against Florida Gulf Coast. A jumper by Stafford gave North Alabama a 72-52 lead with 6:12 remaining.
 
The Owls would get no closer than 15 points the rest of the way. UNA, which records the season sweep over KSU, shot 54.8 percent in the second half and finished the game 11-of-22 from three-point range. The Lions also held a 41-32 rebounding advantage.
 
Blackmon also reached double figures on the night, scoring 18 points. Smith added nine points and eight assists for North Alabama. Tyler Hooker led Kennesaw State (5-23 overall, 2-11 ASUN) with 20 points.
 
UNA will play at Stetson on Saturday. Tip-off is set for 3 p.m. (Central) on the Hatter's campus in DeLand, Fla.

 
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Players Mentioned

Kendarius Smith

#11 Kendarius Smith

G
5' 10"
Senior
Kendall Stafford

#24 Kendall Stafford

G/F
6' 4"
Senior
Jamari Blackmon

#3 Jamari Blackmon

G
6' 0"
Freshman
Aleksa Matic

#10 Aleksa Matic

G
6' 4"
Freshman

Players Mentioned

Kendarius Smith

#11 Kendarius Smith

5' 10"
Senior
G
Kendall Stafford

#24 Kendall Stafford

6' 4"
Senior
G/F
Jamari Blackmon

#3 Jamari Blackmon

6' 0"
Freshman
G
Aleksa Matic

#10 Aleksa Matic

6' 4"
Freshman
G