FORT MYERS, Fla. (January 8, 2025) – Fresh off its best conference start since 2013, the University of North Alabama men's basketball game will play four straight games in the state of Florida, beginning Thursday night at 6 p.m. CT against FGCU in Fort Myers.
 
The Lions are one of three teams in the Atlantic Sun Conference with a 2-0 record in conference play along with Lipscomb and Queens. UNA dominated both games last week, including an 82-66 win over Bellarmine and an 88-67 win over EKU. This is the best start for UNA since moving to Division I in 2018 and is tied for the best since 2012-13 as a member of NCAA Division II's Gulf South Conference.
 
Following the FGCU game, the Lions will move on to DeLand, Fla. to take on Stetson on Saturday at 3 p.m. CT. The following week will include two games in Duval County against North Florida and Jacksonville.
 
All four games in Florida will be streamed on ESPN+. This week's games will also air on WLX Radio with "Voice of the Lions" Benjamin Ray on the call. The broadcast can be accessed online, on the WLX app or locally on 98.3 and 103.5 FM.
 
GAME 1 INFORMATION
Game: North Alabama at FGCU
Date: Thursday, January 9
Time: 6:00 p.m. CT
Location: Fort Myers, Fla.
Venue: Alico Arena
Capacity: 4,633
Watch: ESPN+
Radio: WLX 98.3 & 103.5 FM ("Voice of the Lions" Benjamin Ray)
Live Stats: StatBroadcast
Tickets: Click Here
Game Notes: Click Here
Social Media: @UNA_Basketball
 
GAME 2 INFORMATION
Game: North Alabama at Stetson
Date: Saturday, January 11
Time: 3:00 p.m. CT
Location: Florence, Alabama
Venue: Insight Credit Union Arena at Edmonds Center
Capacity: 5,000
Watch: ESPN+
Radio: WLX 98.3 & 103.5 FM ("Voice of the Lions" Benjamin Ray)
Live Stats: SIDEARM
Tickets: Click Here
Game Notes: Available Friday
Social Media: @UNA_Basketball
 
NOTES
 
LAST TIME OUT: North Alabama had three players complete double-doubles and had a season-high 18 points from senior Will Soucie and sophomore Canin Jefferson in an 88-67 win over EKU in Florence last Saturday. Corneilous Williams had 15 points and 11 rebounds, while Taye Fields added 11 points and 14 boards. Donte Bacchus came off the bench to add 12 points and 10 rebounds. All-conference guard Jacari Lane shined with nine points, five assists and zero turnovers.
 
SCOUTING THE LIONS: North Alabama enters with a 10-5 overall record, tied with Lipscomb for the most overall wins in the ASUN. Among the wins are marquee road victories over Air Force and East Carolina. UNA is 7-1 at home with five of those coming against Division I opponents. The only loss came by one point in overtime to defending Southern Conference champion Samford. The Lions rank second in the ASUN in overall scoring with 79.1 PPG and fourth in defense with 71.5 PPG allowed.
 
SCOUTING THE EAGLES: FGCU has a 6-9 overall record, playing one of the top 100 strongest schedules in the nation according to KenPom. Notable non-conference wins include Richmond, FAU and FIU. The Eagles opened conference play with a 78-68 road win at West Georgia, followed by a 92-83 loss at Queens. FGCU has the second-ranked defense in the league with 69.4 PPG allowed, while scoring 69.1 PPG offensively. Dallion Johnson is the team leader in scoring with 14.7 PPG. Keeshawn Kellman averages 12.1 PPG and ranks 6th in the ASUN with 7.1 RPG.
 
SERIES HISTORY VS. FGCU: The Lions lead the all-time series with an 8-5 record. The first two meetings happened while both were Division II with UNA winning both in 2004 and 2005. The series picked back up in 2018-19 as ASUN opponents, where UNA has won six of 11 meetings. The last two have been tight UNA victories, including an 87-85 overtime win in 2023 and a 70-69 win at the buzzer last season in Florence. Jacari Lane made the go-ahead free throw with 1.6 seconds remaining, then FGCU missed a put-back at the buzzer.
 
THE STARS COME OUT: Three Lions are averaging double figures in games against FGCU, including senior Daniel Ortiz with 20.0 PPG in three meetings against FGCU. One of those was a 29 point performance. Junior Jacari Lane is averaging 19.5 PPG in two meetings with the Eagles, while redshirt senior Will Soucie is averaging 10.2 PPG against FGCU in four meetings.
 
SCOUTING THE HATTERS: Stetson made its first appearance in the NCAA Tournament last season but are off to a slow start in 2024-25 with a 3-12 overall record. The Hatters played a difficult non-conference schedule, including one common opponent of UNA in ECU — a 71-64 loss for Stetson. The Hatters lost 96-87 to Queens to open conference play, but responded with a 78-62 win over West Georgia. Stetson is scoring 73.2 PPG with 82.8 PPG allowed. Mekhi Ellison leads the way with 15.5 PPG.
 
SERIES HISTORY VS. STETSON: The Hatters lead the series 8-3. All 11 meetings have happened since UNA moved to Division I in 2018. Eight of the 11 meetings either ended in a single digit margin or in overtime. Last season, UNA won 79-72 in Florence despite falling behind 16-4 in the opening minutes. Dallas Howell was the hero last season with back-to-back threes to flip the lead in the second half. Stetson has a 5-0 advantage against UNA in DeLand.
 
WATCH OUT FOR LANE: Junior guard Jacari Lane has won three ASUN Player of the Week awards this season, opening a strong case for ASUN Player of the Year and a spot on the Lou Henson Mid-Major Player of the Year Watch List with 15.5 PPG and 4.3 APG. In the first two games of ASUN play, Lane has totaled 22 points, 15 assists and zero turnovers. Lane is the only First Team All-ASUN selection from last season to return to the league this season.
 
MILESTONE MEN: Three Lions have met milestones this season, including Lane and Ortiz scoring their 1,000th career point at UNA during non-conference play. Another rare feat was accomplished against Charleston Southern, as senior transfer Taye Fields scored his 1,000th career point in his 100th career game. Fields spent three seasons at Division II Missouri Western and earned All-MIAA honors for two seasons.
 
PARTY OF THE DECADE: UNA is off to its best start in conference play since the 2012-13 season. The last 2-0 start came as a member of NCAA Division II and the Gulf South Conference with back-to-back wins over West Florida and Valdosta State. A win on Thursday would make the first 3-0 conference start since 2011. The last 4-0 conference start dates all the way back to 1987 under Coach Bill Jones.

THE MAGIC NUMBER IS 70: UNA is 9-1 when scoring at least 70 points and 0-4 when scoring under 70 points. Defensively, the Lions have allowed under 70 points in all 10 wins and over 70 points in all five losses.

BALL PROTECTION: UNA ranks 14th in the nation with just 9.6 turnovers per game, while ranking 34th with a +3.5 turnover margins. There are 355 teams included in these rankings. Also, in the first two games of ASUN play, former high school and current college teammates Jacari Lane and Taye Fields have combined for 24 assists and just 3 turnovers.

LOU HENSON WATCH LIST: Junior guard Jacari Lane was named to the Lou Henson Award Early Watch List on November 19, which is an award presented annually to the top player in Mid-Major College Basketball.

TRIPLE DOUBLE-DOUBLE: UNA had three players achieve double-doubles against EKU — Donte Bacchus, Taye Fields, Corneilous Williams. Bacchus had 12 points and 10 rebounds, while Fields led with 14 rebounds to go with 11 points. Williams scored 15 points with 11 boards.

DOUBLE DIGIT DUBS: UNA has won back-to-back ASUN games by double digits following Thursday's 82-66 win over Bellarmine and Saturday's 88-67 win over EKU. The last time UNA accomplished back-to-back double-digit win margins in ASUN play was 2023 with wins over Bellarmine (70-57), Lipscomb (80-70) and Austin Peay (70-57).

LOCKDOWN DEFENSE: UNA has held three opponents under 60 points this season, including Air Force, Point and Tennessee Tech. The last time UNA held a conference opponent under 60 points was last year's visit from Bellarmine — a 69-53 win for the Lions.

ON DECK: After the four-game road swing in Florida, the Lions return to CB&S Bank Arena for a marquee matchup with Lipscomb set for Thursday, Jan. 23.

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