CULLOWHEE, N.C. (November 25, 2023) – The University of North Alabama men's basketball team heads to Appalachia for the first all-time meeting with Western Carolina on Sunday. Tipoff is set for 4 p.m. Eastern Time inside the Ramsey Center in Cullowhee, N.C.
 
For fans watching on ESPN+ in the Shoals or listening locally on WLX Radio with "Voice of the Lions" Benjamin Ray, the game begins at 3 p.m. The "Countdown to Tipoff" radio show begins at 2:40 p.m. and can be accessed online or on 98.3 FM and 103.5 FM in the Shoals.
 
The Catamounts will be one of the toughest tests for UNA this season, as they are currently ranked No. 14 in the College Insider Mid-Major Top 25 and are among the top 150 teams in the KenPom Ratings.
 
GAMEDAY INFORMATION
Game: North Alabama at Western Carolina
Date: Sunday, November 26
Time: 4:00 p.m. EST / 3:00 p.m. CST
Location: Cullowhee, N.C.
Venue: Ramsey Center
Capacity: 7,826
TV: ESPN+
Radio: WLX 98.3 / 103.5 FM — "Voice of the Lions" Benjamin Ray
Live Stats: Sidearm Stats
Game Notes: Click here
Tickets: WCUAthleticsTickets.com
Social Media: @UNA_Basketball
 
NOTES
 
LAST TIME OUT: UNA made its first trip to UT Martin since 1991 on Wednesday, providing fans with an entertaining double-overtime game before the Thanksgiving break. The Skyhawks edged the Lions by a 105-103 final with the game-tying shot falling off the mark. This marked UNA's first overtime game since last season's 98-93 win at EKU in Richmond, Ky.
 
WORKING OVERTIME: Prior to Wednesday, the last time UNA went to multiple overtimes came during the 2015-16 season at Valdosta State — a triple overtime finish. The last UNA game to finish in double overtime dates all the way back to the 1985-86 season against Athens State.
 
FIVE GUYS: UNA had five scorers in double figures on Wednesday for the first time since the EKU overtime win last season, including KJ Johnson with a team-high 27 points. Jacari Lane added 19 points, while Marco Foster added 14 with four triples and a pull up jumper. All three totals were season-highs for those players. Frontcourt duo Tim Smith Jr. and Damian Forrest had 12 points and 10 points, respectively. True freshman Canin Jefferson had a career-high nine points to nearly make six in double figures for the first time in 37 games.
 
ROAD TO 100: At UT Martin, UNA scored over 100 points on the road for the first time in the Division I era. Prior to Wednesday, the last time UNA scored 100 points in a road game was a 100-63 win at Montevallo in 2017. In six seasons under Coach Tony Pujol, the Lions have scored 100 or more points six times — five at home and one on the road.
 
SCOUTING THE LIONS: The Lions enter with a 3-2 overall record with three wins at home and two losses on the road. UNA is averaging 78.8 points per game and giving up 74.4 PPG. Last time out, UNA shot 45.6 percent from the floor and 40.5 percent behind the arc, going 15-37 while setting a new school record for three-point attempts.
 
SCOUTING THE CATAMOUNTS: Western Carolina has a perfect 4-0 record this season with a pair of impressive road wins over Notre Dame and Middle Tennessee State. The Catamounts are also perfect at home with wins over Dalton State and McNeese State. The McNeese win came a week ago today on a go-ahead basket from Vonterius Woolbright with 4.6 seconds to go to win 76-74. The Catamounts are averaging 79.8 PPG with just 66.0 PPG allowed.
 
SERIES HISTORY: Sunday will mark the first all-time meeting between North Alabama and Western Carolina. The Lions seek their first win in North Carolina since beginning the Division I era in 2018-19. UNA currently owns an 0-2 record in the Tar Heel State since 2018 with losses to UNC Greensboro and Queens.
 
JOHNSON MOVES UP: Senior KJ Johnson has led the Lions in scoring the last few outings, including 27 points the last time out at UT Martin. He currently ranks fourth among active ASUN players and 79th in all-time scoring for the league with 1,333 career points over five seasons at Lipscomb and North Alabama. In fact, he needs just 13 points to tie former UNA great Jamari Blackmon for 75th in ASUN history.
 
SMITH ACHIEVES 1K: Graduate transfer Tim Smith Jr. scored his 1,000th career point last Saturday against Jacksonville State 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 49 points over five games at UNA, including 12 last time out.
 
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.
 
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 from last season to this season.
 
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 Sunday's bout with 66 wins over six seasons and led UNA to an 18-15 overall record in its first season out of the four-year Division I transition period.
 
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.
 
UP NEXT: After Sunday's road bout, the Lions return home to CB&S Bank Arena on Thursday, Nov. 30 to host Tennessee Tech at 7 p.m. UNA owns a 12-4 record in "The Bank" over the last two season and are 24-2 in non-conference home games under Coach Pujol the last six seasons.
 
For more information on North Alabama Athletics, visit www.roarlions.com and follow UNA Athletics on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.