FLORENCE, Ala. (November 14, 2024) – The University of North Alabama men's basketball team will welcome the defending Southern Conference champion to Florence on Friday, as Samford battles the Lions at 7:45 p.m. inside CB&S Bank Arena.
 
This game will be part of a marquee double header with the UNA women's basketball team, as the women will host South Alabama at 5:30 p.m. The men's game is also part of the scheduling alliance between the Atlantic Sun Conference and Southern Conference, as both conference's members will play a home-and-home against members of the other conference.
 
The game will be streamed on ESPN+ with "Voice of the Lions" Benjamin Ray and Matt Daniels on the call. Lynden Blake will be courtside. The game will also air on WLX Radio with Bryan Neece on commentary. Fans can listen on 98.3 or 103.5 FM in the Shoals or worldwide on the WLX App or website. The "Countdown to Tipoff" show begins at 7:25 p.m.
Season ticket are available by calling 256-765-5466 (LION) or by visiting this link.

Due to ongoing construction, the basketball parking plan will be revised for the 2024-25 season. Lots A and B will be in the parking lot directly below Flowers Hall. Lot A pass holders will have coned off spots near the staircase. Shuttles will be available to take fans up to the field house lot for entry into CB&S Bank Arena.

Lot C parking will be in the parking lot below the Mitchell Burford Science and Technology Building. Residential Students will have access into Lot C with their hang tags. The public can also park in this lot for $12. Parking at the Bill Jones athletic complex will be unavailable. However, this lot is available as a drop off area near the arena.
 
GAMEDAY INFORMATION
Game: North Alabama vs. Samford
Date: Friday, November 15
Time: 7:45 p.m. CT
Location: Florence, Alabama
Venue: CB&S Bank Arena (Flowers Hall)
Capacity: 3,000
Promotion: Lion Cup Night
Game Sponsor: United Community Bank
Watch: ESPN+ ("Voice of the Lions" Benjamin Ray, Matt Daniels, Lynden Blake)
Radio: WLX - 98.3 and 103.5 FM (Bryan Neece)
Live Stats: StatBroadcast
Tickets: Click here
Social Media: @UNA_Basketball
 
NOTES
LAST TIME OUT: The Lions got off to a 3-0 start for the second time in three seasons, handling UT Martin with a 87-69 win on Monday inside CB&S Bank Arena. There were 10 lead changes in the first half, but Jacari Lane hit a three-pointer to end the half with UNA up 44-41. The second half was a different story, as UNA started on a 12-0 run cruised the rest of the way to an 18-point win. Lane finished with 22 points.
 
SCOUTING THE LIONS: UNA returns six players from last season to go with nine newcomers. The Lions have dominated every game this season, scoring 84.7 points per game with just 61.3 allowed. Two of those three wins were against Division I foes in Air Force and UT Martin. The Lions have shot at least 40 percent in every game and have not allowed more than 70 points in a game.
 
SCOUTING THE BULLDOGS: Samford is off to a 2-1 start with wins over Mississippi College (Division II) and Rhodes College (Division III) and a road loss to Cornell at the buzzer, 88-86. The Bulldogs are coming off a remarkable 29-6 season under fifth-year head coach Bucky McMillan. Last season, Samford won the SoCon regular season and tournament championships and made its first appearance in March Madness since 2000, falling 93-89 to No. 4 Kansas in a first round heartbreaker. Senior Collin Holloway leads SAM with 15.3 PPG and 5.0 RPG.
 
SERIES HISTORY: Friday will mark the 30th all-time meeting, dating back to 1949. Samford leads the all-time series 15-14, meaning a UNA win would even the all-time series. Since UNA moved to Division I in 2018, the foes have battled twice. Samford won the 2018 opener — UNA's first game as a Division I school — in Birmingham. UNA won the most recent meeting in 2019, winning 61-55 in Florence.
 
SOCON-ASUN ALLIANCE: In July, the Atlantic Sun Conference and Southern Conference announced a home-and-home scheduling alliance for the 2024-25 men's basketball season. North Alabama will battle Samford at home for the first of those game. The second will come at Wofford on Dec. 1. Both Samford and Wofford have had an NCAA Tournament appearances the last five seasons.
 
HOME SWEET HOME: UNA has played like money in "The Bank" since moving to Division I in 2018. In seven seasons under Coach Tony Pujol, the Lions have a 52-26 overall record and a 28-3 record against non-conference opponents. Before a loss to Morehead State last season, UNA had a 15-game win streak at home against non-conference teams that spanned exactly three years. All-time, UNA has a 530-185 record inside Flowers Hall and CB&S Bank Arena.
 
THE LANE GAME: Junior guard Jacari Lane is the only returning first team all-conference selection in the ASUN this season. Through three games, Lane has posted even better numbers than last season with 19.7 PPG. This currently ranks tied for second in the ASUN.
 
TURNOVER FIENDS: UNA is among the national leaders in turnover margin and steals while leading the ASUN in both categories. The Lions rank 14th nationally with 12.7 steals per game, while ranking 16th in turnover margin at plus-8.3. Lane and fifth year season Will Soucie lead the charge with seven steals apiece. Six Lions have at least four steals, while no Lions have more than four turnovers.

LOCKDOWN DEFENSE: In the first two games, UNA held both Air Force and Point below 60 points. The Lions accomplished this just twice all of last season against Bellarmine (69-53) and Jacksonville State (61-59).

MID-MAJOR MADNESS: Both Samford and UNA appeared in the latest College Insider Mid Major Top 15 Poll. Samford is ranked No. 21 after starting at No. 20 in the preseason poll. Meanwhile, the Lions received one vote both in the preseason and this week. The ASUN has five teams ranked or receiving votes this week (No. 10 North Florida, Austin Peay, Lipscomb, EKU, North Alabama) while the SoCon has three (No. 21 Samford, Wofford, Furman).
 
CLOSE TO 1K: Teammates Jacari Lane and Daniel Ortiz are approaching the 1,000 point milestone at UNA. Lane has 949 career points at UNA, while Ortiz has 948. Ortiz — who spent his first two seasons at UNA, his junior season at UAB and returns to UNA as a senior — has 1,180 points when counting last season at UAB.

WHAT A WIN WOULD MEAN: The Lions are on the hunt for their first 4-0 start since the 2012-13 season. That season, UNA went 19-9 and appeared in the first round of NCAA Division II Regionals. The last time UNA started with more than five straight wins came in 1990 — the year UNA won the NCAA Division II National Championship.

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