JACKSONVILLE, Ala. (December 1, 2025) – The University of North Alabama men's basketball team started a four-game road trip with its first win of the season, overcoming a halftime deficit for a 73-66 win over in-state rival Jacksonville State on Monday in Pete Mathews Coliseum.
The Lions (4-4) only made one of 13 three-point attempts in a cold first half, but the second half was a different story. UNA lit up the court with six makes on nine triples and took the lead for good with 2:53 remaining.
This marks UNA's first road win of the season and kicks off a four-game December road swing to end non-conference play. UNA also earns its second-straight win over Jax State (3-4) after a 61-59 win in 2023. The Lions also have two straight wins at Pete Mathews Coliseum after a road win in 2022.
Trailing 34-26 in the first half, the Lions outscored the Gamecocks 47-32 in the final 20 minutes. The trio of
Corneilous Williams,
Donte Bacchus and
Canin Jefferson aided this effort with 52 points combined. Williams had his fourth double-double of the season with 17 points and 13 rebounds. Bacchus had a game-high 19 points to match his season high, while Jefferson set a new season high with 16 points.
Bacchus was extremely efficient with an 8-14 shooting day, while Jefferson went 4-9 from the field and 3-6 from downtown. Defensively, sixth-year senior
Dallas Howell and junior
Tank Washington were major with five blocks — three from Howell. Howell added two steals to match sophomore guard
Kevin de Kovachich.
Mostapha El Moutaouakkil maintained his season average to lead JSU with 19 points.
HOW IT HAPPENED
First Half: The game started as a de facto three-point contest with JSU taking a 9-3 lead. Bacchus got it started for North Alabama with the team's first five points heading into the media timeout. Down 11-3, UNA went on a much-needed 10-0 run to take the lead at the 10:53 mark. Jax State eventually jumped back ahead at the 6:28 mark and held a small lead through the half. The Lions went cold behind the arc after Bacchus's early triple, going 1-13 in the half. UNA outscored JSU 20-12 in the paint to make up some of the difference. Williams had 11 points and seven rebounds in the half. JSU took a 34-26 lead into the break.
Second Half: The Lions started hot in the second half, scoring eight of the first 10 points to cut the lead to two at 36-34. Following a tough first half from behind the arc, UNA took the lid off the rim and sank five of the first six triples in the second half. One of those came from sophomore
DarKaun King to tie the game at 47-47, then Jefferson did the same to make it 50-50. Washington followed them with his first three-pointer as a Lion to give UNA its first lead since the 9:54 mark of the first half — 53-52. Down one at the three minute mark, Bacchus flipped the lead to UNA with a layup, then Howell stripped a clutch three-pointer to make it 66-62 at the 1:50 mark. Williams and Jefferson iced the game with free throws.
INSIDE THE NUMBERS
- With the UNA men and women both beating JSU this season, this marks the first season sweep by both programs over the Gamecocks since 1983-84.
- The Lions are 4-0 when Corneilous Williams records a double-double.
- UNA won the rebound battle 41-39. The 41 rebounds are a season-high for UNA.
- UNA is only the second team to beat JSU on the board and the first to do so in a win. The other was Coastal Carolina, who lost 74-67 in Jacksonville.
- Both teams had 12 points off the bench. DarKaun King led UNA with seven points off the bench in a second-half spurt.
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UNA had seven blocks — one away from a season-high set at Mississippi State.
- Both teams had nine turnovers and eight points off those turnovers.
- The Lions are 4-1 when scoring at least 70 points and 2-0 when allowing under 70 points.
COMING UP NEXT
The Lions continue their four-game road swing on Wednesday at San Francisco. Opening tip is scheduled for 9 p.m. CT. The Dons are currently No. 20 in the College Insider Mid-Major Top 25.
For more information on North Alabama Athletics, visit www.roarlions.com and follow UNA Athletics on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
