COOKEVILLE, Tenn. (December 15, 2023) – The University of North Alabama men's basketball team will play its first repeat opponent of the season this Saturday, making a return trip to Tennessee Tech for a 3 p.m. tipoff.
 
The Lions and Golden Eagles squared off once already this season in Florence, with North Alabama winning 86-71 behind a dominant second half inside CB&S Bank Arena.
 
The game will be streamed on ESPN+ and live-statted on StatBroadcast. WLX Radio will also carry the game worldwide on the WLX app and locally on 98.3 and 103.5 FM. "Voice of the Lions" Benjamin Ray will have the radio broadcast beginning at 2:40 p.m.
 
GAMEDAY INFORMATION
Game: North Alabama at Tennessee Tech
Date: Saturday, December 16
Time: 3:00 p.m.
Location: Cookeville, Tennessee
Venue: Eblen Center
Capacity: 9,280
TV: ESPN+
Radio: WLX 98.3 / 103.5 FM — "Voice of the Lions" Benjamin Ray (PxP)
Live Stats: StatBroadcast
Game Notes: Click here
Tickets: Click here
Social Media: @UNA_Basketball
 
NOTES
 
SCOUTING THE LIONS: UNA has a 6-5 overall record following its first road win of the season on Wednesday at Charleston Southern. The Lions are averaging 79.9 points per game while allowing just 74.0 PPG. The Lions lead the Atlantic Sun Conference in free throws made per game (16.7) and three-point percentage (36.9). Guards KJ Johnson and Jacari Lane lead the team with 14.5 and 13.7 PPG, respectively.
 
SCOUTING THE GOLDEN EAGLES: Tennessee Tech is 4-7 on the season, averaging 72.7 PPG while allowing 77.3 PPG. The Golden Eagles are one of the best teams at staying out of foul trouble nationally, averaging just 14.5 fouls per game to rank 33rd in the nation. Four players average double figures for the squad, led by Jayvis Harvey at 16.2 PPG. Harvey had a game-high 25 points in the first meeting with UNA back in November.
 
SERIES HISTORY: UNA has a 2-1 edge in the all-time series. Tomorrow marks UNA's first trip to Cookeville for men's basketball in over 70 years. Prior to this season, UNA and Tennessee Tech battled twice in Cookeville during the 1950-51 season, splitting the two meetings.
 
LAST TIME OUT: The Lions picked up their first road win of the season at Charleston Southern, winning 76-64. Four players finished in double figure scoring for UNA, while the team finished with a 46-18 advantage in the paint. Damian Forrest had a double-double with 12 points and 10 rebounds.
 
A TRIUMPHANT RETURN: Appearing for the first time since exiting UNA's meeting with Tennessee Tech in November, senior guard KJ Johnson entered against Charleston Southern and finished with 14 points to tie a team-high. He added five rebounds and four assists.
 
LIFE IN 4K: UNA has four players with over 1,000 career points on its roster, including Johnson, Tim Smith Jr., Marco Foster and Forrest. The latter three each achieved the feat this season, with Forrest doing it the most recently this past Sunday against Morehead State.
 
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.
 
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 tomorrow's bout with 69 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: UNA continues its four-game road swing into the holidays with a trip to Indiana on Dec. 21 and a trip to Texas Tech on Jan. 1 to break in the new year. Conference play begins Jan. 6 at home against Central Arkansas.
 
For more information on North Alabama Athletics, visit www.roarlions.com and follow UNA Athletics on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.