MARTIN, Tenn. (November 21, 2023) – Just a few days removed from an all-time classic rivalry win over Jacksonville State on Saturday, the University of North Alabama men's basketball team hits the road to renew an old rivalry with UT Martin on Wednesday, Nov. 22 at 2 p.m.
 
The Lions and Skyhawks — a pair of top contenders in their respective conferences — will scrap for the first time since 1991. The 1990-91 season was an important one for both programs, as UT Martin made the move to NCAA Division I after that season, while UNA was crowned the NCAA Division II National Champions.
 
On Wednesday, the two rivals will meet inside the Elam Center for the first time as dual members of Division I. This will also mark the final game before the Thanksgiving holiday.
 
Tickets are available for as low as $10 on UT Martin's website. The game will be streamed on ESPN+ and "Voice of the Lions" Benjamin Ray will have the broadcast on WLX Radio — 98.3 and 103.5 FM in the Shoals.
 
GAMEDAY INFORMATION
Game: North Alabama at UT Martin
Date: Wednesday, November 22
Time: 2:00 p.m.
Location: Martin, Tenn.
Venue: Kathleen and Tom Elam Center
Capacity: 4,300
Watch: ESPN+
Radio: WLX 98.3 / 103.5 FM — "Voice of the Lions" Benjamin Ray (PxP)
Live Stats: StatBroadcast
UNA Game Notes: Click here
MSU Game Notes: Click here
Tickets: Click here
Social Media: @UNA_Basketball
 
NOTES
 
SCOUTING THE LIONS: UNA has a 3-1 record and is averaging 72.8 points per game in the first four outings, while only giving up 66.8 points per game to rank third in the ASUN in scoring defense near Austin Peay (65.6) and Stetson (66.4).
 
SCOUTING THE OPPONENT: UT Martin has a slightly higher offensive output than UNA — averaging 80.6 points per game — but also give up more points with 77.4 PPG allowed. Jordan Sears leads the scoring with a whopping 19.0 PPG, while reigning OVC Player and Newcomer of the Week Jacob Crews has a team-high 10.0 rebounds per game.
 
SERIES HISTORY: UNA leads the all-time series with UT Martin with a 29-22 record since 1949. UNA also battled UT Martin JUCO prior to 1949 under UNA Athletic Hall of Fame Coach Eddie Flowers. The final meetings came in the 1990-91 season, where the Lions swept the season series and went on to defeat Bridgeport in the NCAA Division II National Championship. In those last meetings with UT Martin, the Lions were coached by another UNA Athletic Hall of Famer, Gary Elliott.
 
LAST TIME OUT: In a game between in-state rivals, UNA hosted Jacksonville State this past Saturday in a thriller. After 15 ties and 13 lead changes, the final bucket came from UNA senior KJ Johnson with 1.9 seconds remaining to give the Lions a 61-59 victory in Florence.
 
THE LAST 14: Johnson finished his outing against Jacksonville State with a game-high 23 points. The senior rattled off 14 points in the final 4:31 of the contest, which accounts for all 14 of UNA's final points. This run of scoring started with UNA down 48-47, as Johnson sank two free throws to take the lead.
 
MOVING ON UP: Johnson scored his 1,300th career point in the midst of his 14 point run, moving into 86th all-time among career scorers in the ASUN conference. Johnson has spent five seasons in the league between Lipscomb and North Alabama. He is fourth among active scorers in the league. UNA's highest scorer in the Division I era remains Jamari Blackmon at 1,346 points — all at UNA.
 
ANOTHER MR. 1K: Graduate transfer Tim Smith Jr. scored his 1,000th career point on Saturday against the Gamecocks with four points in the second half. He entered this season with 963 career points, most of which came in two seasons at Division II Walsh University. He now has 37 points over four games at UNA.
 
HOME SWEET HOME: Over the last two seasons, UNA owns a 12-4 record at home inside CB&S Bank Arena. In six seasons under head coach Tony Pujol, the Lions are 24-2 in non-conference home contests.
 
ROAD WARRIORS: UNA went 8-10 last season in road games and will look for its first road win of the season at UT Martin. Elam Center is a tough place for opponents to win, as UT Martin is 16-2 at home over the last two seasons.
 
BUILDING ON SUCCESS: North Alabama finished with an 18-15 record last season, representing the most single-season wins since the Lions made the jump to NCAA Division I in 2018-19.
 
HUNTING ANOTHER POSTSEASON RUN: Last season, UNA played in the 2023 College Basketball Invitational (CBI) to mark the first postseason tournament in the program's NCAA Division I history. Prior to that, UNA's last postseason appearance was an NCAA Regional in 2013-14. UNA has participated in 14 NCAA Tournaments (all Division II), including five Final Four appearances and two National Championship wins.
 
THE ART OF BALANCE: The Lions have 16 players on the 2023-24 roster, including eight returning lettermen and eight newcomers. Of this group, there are three freshmen, three sophomores, six juniors, three seniors and one graduate student.
 
BALANCING THE MINUTES: North Alabama does not have anyone ranked among the top 25 players in the ASUN for minutes played, as the Lions balance the workload well. Damian Forrest leads all starters with 25.8 minutes per game, while the other four starters are all around 20-24 minutes per game.
 
VETERAN LEADERSHIP: Experience is key for potential Atlantic Sun Conference contenders, and UNA brings that to the table this season with four returning starters. UNA returns 70 percent of its scoring to the starting lineup, not including reigning ASUN Freshman of the Year and ASUN Sixth Man of the Year Jacari Lane who was first off the bench last season and leads all returners in scoring with 12.7 PPG.
 
ROOKIES RISE AT UNA: In the last five seasons, UNA leads all ASUN schools in all-freshman team selections with six. This includes current players Lane and junior Detalian Brown. The Lions have three freshmen this season — Canin Jefferson, Drake James and Hugh Hargett.
 
PUJOL CONTINUES PROGRAM GROWTH: UNA head coach Tony Pujol enters his sixth season at the helm, serving as the first and only coach of UNA's Division I era. Pujol enters Wednesday's game against UT Martin with 66 wins over six seasons.
 
STRENGTH IN STAFF: The UNA men's basketball coaching staff experienced some restructuring this offseason, including the promotion of Ahmad Smith to Associate Head Coach and Sean Foley to Special Assistant to the Head Coach. Additions to the staff include Austin Burnette as an assistant coach, Landon Travis to handle basketball operations and Eric Wagenlander to direct efforts in player development. Assistant Coach Carter Heston and Director of Sport Performance Leo Stern also return from last year's staff.
 
PRESEASON POLLS: North Alabama was picked seventh of 12 teams in the preseason coaches and media poll for the ASUN. The Lions received one first place vote in the coaches poll. EKU was picked to win in both polls.
 
For more information on North Alabama Athletics, visit www.roarlions.com and follow UNA Athletics on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.