PEORIA, Ill. (March 18, 2025) – North Alabama, welcome to the oldest postseason tournament in college basketball.
 
For the first time in program history, the Lions were invited and accepted a bid to play in the 87th National Invitational Tournament — commonly known as the NIT. UNA starts the first round against one of the more NIT-tested programs, Bradley, on Wednesday at 7 p.m.
 
All games through the first two rounds will be hosted at campus sites. Bradley will host UNA in Peoria, Ill. at Carver Arena inside the Peoria Civic Center. Bradley is a No. 3 seed in the Dayton Regional, while UNA is one of 16 unseeded teams in the NIT.
 
The winner of Wednesday's game will advance to play either No. 2 George Mason or unseeded Samford either Saturday, March 22 or Sunday, March 23. Times and locations will be determined after all games are complete in the first round.
 
This game will be streamed on ESPN+. Fans are encouraged to tune into the hometown broadcast with "Voice of the Lions" Benjamin Ray on the call on 98.3 and 103.5 FM in the Shoals, online or with the WLX app.
 
Fans are also invited to Mugshots in Downtown Florence for the official watch party.
 
GAME INFORMATION
Game: North Alabama vs. Bradley
Date: Wednesday, March 19
Time: 7:00 p.m.
Location: Peoria, Illinois
Venue: Carver Arena
Capacity: 11,060
Watch Party: Mugshots in Downtown Florence.
Watch: ESPN+
Radio: WLX 98.3 & 103.5 FM ("Voice of the Lions" Benjamin Ray)
Live Stats: SIDEARM
Tickets: Click Here
Game Notes: Click Here
Social Media: @UNA_Basketball
 
NOTES
 
MARCH MADNESS: The Lions will make their second non-conference postseason appearance since becoming a Division I member in 2018-19. The first was the 2023 CBI, where the Lions fell to Southern Utah in the first round. UNA has a tradition of success at the Division II level, winning six Gulf South Conference titles and appearing in 14 NCAA Tournaments. The Lions won two Division II National Championships in 1979 and 1991, becoming the first college basketball team in the state of Alabama to win a National Championship at any level.
 
TWO PERSPECTIVES: While UNA is a first-time participant in the NIT, Bradley has the second-most NIT appearances in NCAA history with 24 — including this season. Bradley made the NIT Sweet Sixteen last season and won NIT Championships in 1957, 1960, 1964 and 1982.
 
ASUN TOURNAMENT RECAP: UNA made a run to the ASUN Championship Final for the second time in seven seasons at the Division I level, defeating No. 7 seed Austin Peay and No. 4 Jacksonville at home before falling to top-seed Lipscomb in the championship in Nashville. UNA's other ASUN Final appearance came in 2021 at Liberty. Jacari Lane and Taye Fields were named to the ASUN All-Tournament Team.
 
SCOUTING THE LIONS: North Alabama is 24-10 this season, setting a new program Division I best for single-season wins and single-season conference wins with 14. The Lions were ASUN Regular Season Championships along with Lipscomb — marking UNA's first Division I regular season championship in any sport. The Lions are led by Tony Pujol, who has been the coach for all seven seasons of Division I. Jacari Lane is the leading scorer with 17.4 PPG and is a finalist for the Lou Henson Mid-Major Player of the Year award.
 
SCOUTING THE BRAVES: Bradley enters the NIT with an overall record of 26-8, finishing second in the Missouri Valley Conference at 15-5 behind NCAA No. 12 seed Drake. The 24 regular season wins for Bradley were the most for the program since 1985-86. The player to watch is Duke Deen with 13.8 PPG and the 12th most three-pointers in the NCAA with 104. The head coach is Brian Wardle in his 10th season, leading Bradley to three MVC championships — two tournaments and one regular season.
 
SERIES HISTORY: This will be the first all-time meeting between UNA and Bradley.
 
For more information on North Alabama Athletics, visit www.roarlions.com and follow UNA Athletics on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.