LOUISVILLE, Ky. -- The University of North Alabama men's basketball team picked up its eighth win in its last nine games with a key 70-57 road win over Bellarmine at the KFC Yum! Center.

It was the Lions first win over the Knights in six meetings and keeps UNA in the hunt in the ASUN Conference basketball race with three games to play. UNA improved to 17-11 overall and 9-6 in the ASUN. The Lions remain in fifth place in the conference race, just one game back of Stetson for fourth.  

Aided by six three-point baskets in the first half, including three from K.J. Johnson, UNA fought its way to a 29-20 halftime advantage. The Lions led by as many as 12 points in the half.

UNA then outscored Bellarmine 41-37 in the second half to extend its lead.

Johnson and Jacari Lane led UNA with 15 points each, while Will Soucie had 12. Johnson added six assists and Soucie led the Lions on the boards with nine rebounds.

For the game, UNA hit 12 of 29 three-point attempts to just four-of-20 shooting on threes for the Knights. The Lions held the Knights to just 33.3 percent shooting from the floor and led for almost 34 minutes of the game.

North Alabama plays at Eastern Kentucky Saturday at 6 p.m. The Lions will then close out their regular season with home games against Kennesaw State and Jacksonville State.