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05.15.10
GRADUATION
Two members of the UNA Basketball Team
graduated May 15th. Doug Hunter and
Corey Speight celebrated in the
graduation ceremonies held in Flowers
Hall. Hunter a 6'7" forward, earned a
Bachelor of Business Administration
degree. Speight, a 6'1" received a
Master's of Education. Hunter will
return next season for his final year of
eligibility and Speight will enter the
workforce.
This is a very exciting time for
everyone associated with the UNA
Basketball Program. We look forward to
watching these young men as they make
valuable contributions to our community
01.27.10
BOUNCING BACK
Six players reached double digits in
scoring as the University of North
Alabama men's basketball team raced past
Concordia-Selma 116-78 Saturday evening
at Flowers Hall. Rory Miller led all
scorers with 32 points as the Lions
climbed back above the .500 mark for the
season with a 10-9 record.
Miller reached at least 30 points for
the second consecutive game, this time,
getting the total in only 26 minutes of
playing time. The Lions built a 52-32
lead at the break before scoring 64
points in the second half.
Jared Strode added 24 points for North
Alabama while Eddie Lima just missed a
double-double with 13 points and nine
rebounds. Daviel Clements (12 points),
Marquel Darrington (11 points) and
Warrick Mastin (10 points) rounded out
the top scorers for the Lions. Concordia
(1-15) was led by Gabriel Ball's 18
points.
In the second half, UNA shot a
blistering 65.7 percent from the field.
The Lions led by as many as 42 points
after a layup by Lima with 1:16
remaining.
UNA will hit the road for another
non-conference match-up on Thursday. The
Lions will take on Lambuth with tip-off
set for 8 p.m. in Jackson, Tenn.
01.22.10
TOUGH WEEK
Late three-point baskets by West Alabama
and Alabama-Huntsville costs the
University of North Alabama men's
basketball team a pair of road Gulf
South Conference victories last week.
On Saturday, Jason Swanson connected on
a buzzer-beating three-pointer to give
West Alabama a 78-76 home win. Two days
later, UAH guard Josh Magette drained a
pair of long-range shots in the final
two minutes to lift the Chargers to a
87-78 victory at Spragins Hall. With the
two losses, UNA falls to 8-9 overall
with a 1-3 showing in GSC play. Against
West Alabama, the Lions rallied from a
17-point second-half deficit to take the
lead in the final minute of play. A
jumper by Jared Strode put UNA on top
76-75 with 13 seconds remaining.
Swanson, however, was able to connect on
his first three-point basket of the
season to give UWA the victory.
Rory Miller led the Lions with 26 points
on the night. Strode added 20 points and
six rebounds, while Daviel Clements
tossed in 17 points for UNA. In the UAH
game, Magette scored a team-high 16
points, including a pair of clutch
three-pointers as the Chargers improved
to 13-4 on the season. His first one
gave UAH a 79-74 lead with 1:50
remaining. He then drained another at
the 1:14 mark to put the game out of
reach.
Clements led the Lions with 25 points on
the night. Miller added 22 points and
seven rebounds while Strode tossed in 13
points for UNA. North Alabama will
travel to Pensacola, Fla., for its next
road GSC match-up on Jan. 20. The Lions
will take on West Florida Wednesday with
tip-off set for 7 p.m. at the UWF Field
House.
01.15.10
BUZZ
BEATING LOSS
West Alabama's Jason Swanson drained a
three-point basket as time expired to
lift the Tigers to a 78-76 Gulf South
Conference win over UNA Thursday evening
at Pruitt Hall on the UWA campus.
The Lions had battled back from a
17-point second-half deficit to take a
76-75 lead on a jumper by Jared Strode
with 13 seconds remaining. Swanson,
however, gave UWA its first conference
victory with the three-pointer as the
Tigers improved to 10-8 overall in 1-1
in league play. With the loss, North
Alabama falls to 8-8 overall and 1-2 in
the GSC.
West Alabama took a 39-27 lead at the
break, and stretched the advantage to 17
points early in the second half. A layup
by Brandon Hampton gave the Tigers a
56-39 advantage with 13:33 remaining.
The Lions were able to slowly chip away
at the deficit and grab a one-point
advantage in the final minute of play.
With UWA leading 75-71, Daviel Clements
hit a three-pointer with 37 seconds
left. UNA was able to force a turnover
on the ensuing possession to set up
Strode s final shot. The three-pointer
left just enough time for the Tigers to
come back down the floor for the
game-winner.
Rory Miller led the Lions with 26 points
on the night. Strode added 20 points and
six rebounds, while Clements tossed in
17 points for UNA.
UNA will play at Alabama-Huntsville in
another key GSC road game Saturday.
Tip-off is set for 7 p.m. at Spragins.
01.10.10
LIONS OPEN WITH CONFERENCE WIN
The North Alabama men's basketball team
shot nearly 60 percent from the floor in
the second half to maintain its
half-time lead over West Georgia and
open Gulf South Conference play with an
84-70 over the Wolves Saturday evening
at Flowers Hall.
Rory Miller scored 13 points in the
first half and gave the Lions their
largest lead of the half when he
converted a three-point play to make it
33-24. West Georgia (7-8, 0-1) trimmed
the margin to 36-33 before Jacobe
Shannon scored three points in a 5-0 run
that helped UNA take a 41-35 lead into
halftime.
The Lions used their transition game to
keep the momentum early in the second
half. Miller opened the half with a
three-point play after scoring on a
fast-break and Jared Strode followed
with layup and a dunk to extend the lead
to 48-35. The Lions were 16-of-27 over
the final 20 minutes to extend a 41-35
advantage to a 12-point victory.
UNA improved to 8-6 on the season with a
1-0 early showing in the GSC. Strode led
all scorers with 24 points for the
Lions. The senior from Winchester, KY,
was 9-of-13 from the floor and added six
free throws. He scored 15 points in the
second half as UNA pulled away.
Miller finished the game with 20 points
and 7 rebounds. Daviel Clements came off
the bench and added 16 points. Shannon
took advantage of his second start of
the season and led UNA with 8 rebounds
and 5 assists. The junior from Baton
Rouge, LA also had 3 steal and no
turnovers in 27 minutes of play. Brett
Jackson also had a solid performance
adding 7 points, 4 rebounds, 3 steals
and 3 blocks.
West Georgia was led by Deion Sims
21-point effort.
North Alabama will host Valdosta State
on Sunday in a rescheduled GSC contest
from earlier in the week. Tip-off is set
for 3 p.m. at Flowers Hall.
01.06.10
LIONS GET A WIN
North Alabama picked up some much-needed
momentum entering Gulf South Conference
play Monday night with a 76-67 victory
over Southern Arkansas.
Jared Strode led four players in double
figures with 19 points as the Lions
(7-6) never trailed. Strode scored 14 of
his points in the second half as the
Lions held off the Muleriders in their
final game before Thursday's GSC opener
against Valdosta State.
"I hope this gives us a lift for
conference play," coach Bobby Champagne
said. "It's a long road trip and we're
going to have a quick turnaround for
Thursday's game, but it was good to get
this one and get a split on the road."
Brett Jackson helped the Lions get off
to a good start. The sophomore forward
was 5-for-5 from the floor and had 6
rebounds in the first half.
The Lions jumped out to a quick lead and
pushed the margin to 23-13 after a layup
by Daviel Clements. Southern Arkansas
(5-7), however, rallied to tie it at
26-all just before halftime. But a layup
by Clements and a 3-pointer at the
buzzer by Warrick Mastin sent UNA into
halftime with a 31-26 advantage.
"We got off to a good start, but then we
didn't finish well," Champagne said. "We
were lucky to get back up by 5 at
halftime. They started pressing us and
we got rattled."
The Muleriders tied it at 37 early in
the second half before a 3-pointer by
Jacobe Shannon put the Lions up for
good. UNA later scored three consecutive
baskets off of offensive rebounds with
Strode, Rory Miller and Mastin getting
the baskets to extend the lead to 52-44.
SAU managed just 14 of 28 free throws
and connected only once on 11
three-point attempts on the night. Add
in 22 turnovers and it made for too big
a hill to climb as the Lions built
14-point leads twice in the second half
en route to the win. Jacobe Shannon gave
UNA a 58-44 advantage at 8:17 on a trey
and then built the same margin at 69-55
with two free throws with 2:52 left to
play. Southern Arkansas got no closer
than eight points the rest of the way as
North Alabama rolled on to the
nine-point victory.
Miller and Shannon then hit back-to-back
3-pointers to give UNA its largest lead
at 58-44. The Lions made just 12-of-24
free throws in the second half, but hit
enough the maintain a comfortable lead.
Jackson finished with 12 points for the
Lions, while Clements and Miller scored
11 each. Shannon had 9 points off the
bench.
"We went to our bench early in the
second half and those guys gave us a
spark," Champagne said. "Jacobe Shannon
played the rest of the way at point
guard and did a nice job."
Channin Harden scored 16 points to lead
Southern Arkansas. The Muleriders made
just one 3-pointer on the night. UNA
also held a 33-29 rebounding advantage.
"We did a good job of getting in front
of them and not giving them any
3-pointers," Champagne said. "It was
good to have 11 offensive rebounds
because several of them were huge."
Thursday's GSC opener against Valdosta
State has been rescheduled for Sunday at
3:00pm at Flowers Hall. The game was
changed due to the inclement weather
predicted for the Shoals on Thursday.
UNA will host West Georgia on Saturday
at 3:00pm at Flowers Hall.
01.05.10
SNOW
STORM
Due to the pending snow storm we are
re-scheduling the VSU Basketball games
from Thursday, Jan. 7 to Sunday, Jan.
10. The game times are 1:00pm (Women)
and 3:00pm (Men).
Please communicate (over-communicate, if
that is possible) this information to
our fans, staff, ticket and table
workers, officials, and students.
We will still have the "Take a Parent to
the Game" promotion for the elementary
schools for this event on Sunday.
Thanks,
Mark D. Linder
Director of Athletics
University of North Alabama
01.03.10
UNA
HOLDS OFF HARDING FOR 91-87 VICTORY
Daviel Clements layup with 24 seconds
remaining gave North Alabama a one-point
lead and the Lions forced two turnovers
and hit 3-of-4 free throws the rest of
the way to hold on for a 91-87 victory
over Harding Monday evening at Flowers
Hall. Clements, a junior from Jessup,
GA, had 29 points to lead all scorers on
the night as UNA climbed back above the
.500 mark for the season at 6-5. With
the loss, Harding falls to 6-4 on the
year.
North Alabama took a 53-38 lead at the
half before the Bisons rallied. Harding
opened the second half with a 29-13 run
to grab a 67-66 lead with 9:43
remaining. From there, neither team led
by more than four until the closing
seconds.
A pair of free throws by Harding s
Bradley Spencer gave the Bisons an 83-81
lead at the two minute mark. After the
two teams traded possessions without
scoring, Rory Miller connected on a
three-point shot from the corner to put
the Lions on top by one with 1:10
remaining. Harding quickly responded
with a layup by Kevin Brown before
Clements shot in the final minute gave
UNA the lead for good.
Miller finished the game 8-of-12 from
the floor with a pair of three-pointers
to finish with 23 points. Jared Strode
also reached double digits in scoring
with 16 points while Brett Jackson had a
solid night with seven points and
team-highs in rebounds (8) and blocks
(4).
The Bisons had five players in double
digits in scoring, led by Brown s 20
points.
UNA will hit the road for its next two
outings against more teams from the Gulf
South Conference West Division. The
Lions will play at Arkansas-Monticello
next Saturday, Jan. 2, before traveling
to Southern Arkansas on Monday, Jan. 4.
Next home game Jan. 7 vs. Valdosta
State, tip-off set for 3pm.
12.21.09
LIONS COME UP SHORT IN UPSET BID
Turnovers spoiled any chance of North
Alabama handing the fifth-ranked
Arkansas Tech Men s Basketball team its
first loss as the Wonderboys picked up
an impressive 89-76 victory over North
Alabama at Flowers Hall. Tech improved
to 10-0 on the season. UNA fell to 5-5
on the year.
The Lions turned the ball over 28 times
that led to 35 points for the visitors.
In the first half both offenses sizzled
as the team s combined to hit 32 of
their 59 shots (54 percent) and score a
combined 87 points. UNA shot 54 percent
from the field (15-for-28), while Tech
shot 55 percent (17-for-31) in the half
as they led 46-41 at halftime.
Tech opened the second half on an 18-11
run to push out to a 62-50 lead with
12:43 left in the game following two
free throws by senior guard Renard
Allen. UNA, though, would not go away,
as the Lions used a 6-0 run to pull
within 64-56 with 11:45 on a free throw
by Rory Miller.
From the point, Tech used 9-0 spurt to
push in front 71-56 with 10:05 left in
the game. The Wonder Boys would maintain
at least a seven-point margin the rest
of the game to earn its second win this
season over the Lions. Tech picked up an
88-73 win over UNA in Russellville on
Dec. 5.
UNA was paced offensively by 20 points
apiece from Jared Strode and Daviel
Clements. Clements scored 15 of those
points in the first half. Miller added
19 points and seven boards in the loss.
Tech finished the game shooting 50
percent from the field and 40 percent
from the 3-point line, while UNA shot 48
percent from the floor and 33 percent
from long distance. The game featured 52
fouls as the two teams combined to shoot
62 free throws. Tech was 27-for-34 (79
percent) from the line, while UNA was
21-for-28 (75 percent) at the stripe.
The Lions will host Harding Monday
evening with the tip-off set for 6 p.m.
at Flowers Hall.
12.15.09
LIONS NOTCH WIN
Jared Strode scored 21 points and pulled
10 rebounds to lead the University of
North Alabama to a 95-82 win over Martin
Methodist at Flowers Hall.
The Lions held a narrow 41-38 lead at
halftime but extended the lead to
double-digits in the second half and
held on for the 13-point win. An early
run in the second half paved the way for
the Lions who move to 5-4 on the season.
"The start of the second half was the
key," Coach Bobby Champagne said. "We
stressed getting off to a better start
than we did in the first half and the
guys responded. But we have to be able
to come out and play with a lot of
energy to start the game." UNA scored
the first eight points of the second
half to take control of the game.
Marquel Darrington and Trent McCants hit
back-to-back treys in the 8-0 run to
start the half, putting UNA up 49-38.
Martin Methodist later cut the margin to
51-48, but Jared Strode hit a 3-pointer
to push the lead back to six.
UNA hit 14 three-point baskets led by
Daviel Clements with five. The Lions had
five players score in double-figures as
Strode and Rory Miller had 21 points
each, Clements 17, Warrick Mastin 11 and
Brett Jackson 10.
Aubre Bodison scored 22 to pace the
RedHawks (10-3).Will Shackleford also
scored 12 and Marques Washington added
10 for the visitors
UNA was outrebounded 46-42 but made up
the difference on the three-point
baskets. UNA shot 47.8 percent from the
field for the game, including 14-of-29
from 3-point range. Clements got hot
midway through the half, hitting four
treys in a five-minute span to extend
the Lions' lead to 80-66 with 5:14
remaining.
"When we play with emotion we can be a
very good team," Champagne said. "It is
no coincidence that when you play with
some intensity and energy that good
things happen for you and you shoot with
more confidence. "We had several guys
step up. Brett Jackson gave us a spark
in the first half and our point guard
play with Marquel and Trent was really
good. And it was good to see Rory Miller
score the way he did."
Strode and Miller led UNA with 21 points
each. Clements added 17 points, while
Warrick Mastin had 11 and Jackson scored
10. This was Strode s second
double-double of the season.
The Lions got off to a slow start and
trailed by as many as 8 in the first
half. Jackson had five points in a 7-0
spurt that gave UNA its first lead at
22-19. Strode scored eight points in the
final three minutes of the half to help
the Lions take a 41-38 lead into
halftime.
UNA will host # 5 Arkansas Tech on
Saturday. The women's game tips off at 1
p.m., with the men to follow at 3 p.m.
12.10.09
STRODE NAMED PLAYER OF WEEK AGAIN
Strode collects his second laurel of the
season, leading the Lions to a 2-1
record in a trio of road contests. He
averaged 24.0 points and 7.0 rebounds in
34.0 minutes, while shooting 59.1
percent from the floor and 66.7 percent
at the foul line.
The senior began the week, leading all
players with 28 points and seven
rebounds in an 83-75 win at Ouachita
Baptist. Next, he led the Lions with 26
points and four boards in just 29
minutes of an 88-73 setback at then No.
14 Arkansas Tech. The Winchester, KY
native completed the week, notching his
first career double-double via 18 points
and 10 rebounds in a 79-67 victory at
in-state foe Miles.
12.09.09
UNA GETS A ROAD WIN
Rory Miller scored 25 points to lead the
North Alabama men to a 79-67 road win
over Miles College on Monday evening at
Fair-Park Arena.
Miller, a 6-7 forward from Jesup, GA,
had a game-high 12 points at the half,
but UNA still trailed 35-34. The deficit
marked the fifth straight game North
Alabama has trailed at the break. The
Lions, however, were able to rally by
hitting 57.7 percent of their shots over
the final 20 minutes.
"We started a smaller lineup tonight and
our defensive pressure was better,"
coach Bobby Champagne said. "But we
still got off to a slow start, as we
always seem to do. But we did a much
better job controlling the game in the
second half."
The Lions were able to grab the lead
early in the second half and led by as
many as 15. Daviel Clements had a pair
of key 3-pointers to help UNA maintain
the lead.
Miller also led the team with 14
rebounds and was joined by Jared Strode,
who added another double-double for UNA.
Strode tossed in 18 points and grabbed
10 boards, including seven in the second
half.
"Rory did a good job scoring in the
post, but the rest of the guys did a
good job getting the ball inside. Once
we got it inside we were able to reverse
the ball and knock down some shots. We
shot well in the second half and did a
better job guarding."
UNA will return home next Tuesday to
face Martin Methodist.
12.07.09
LIONS SPLIT TWO-GAME TRIP
After being almost perfect shooting free
throws in beating Ouachita Baptist on
Friday, North Alabama couldn't get
anything to fall Saturday night at
Arkansas Tech.
UNA's bad free-throw shooting in the
first half put the Lions in a big hole
they could not recover from in losing
88-73 to the No. 14 Wonder Boys.
The Lions were 31-of-33 at the line in
Friday's win, but hit just 2-of-13 in
the first half against Arkansas Tech.
The result was a 43-34 Wonder Boys lead
at halftime. UNA finished just 13-of-27
at the line.
"It was the complete opposite on
Friday's game in that we just couldn't
make a free throw," coach Bobby
Champagne said. "We got off to a slow
start tonight, and Arkansas Tech had a
lot to do with that. They did what good
teams do and did exactly what they
needed to do to get the win."
The Wonder Boys (7-0) used an early 10-0
run to take a 16-2 lead. UNA (3-4)
rallied to cut it to 32-27 on a basket
by Jacobe Shannon, but Tech came back to
take the 43-34 lead into halftime.
UNA tried to rally in the second half,
cutting Tech's lead to 67-62 when Rory
Miller converted a three-point play with
6:26 remaining. But the Wonder Boys
answered with a 3-pointer by Willie
Sanders and then pulled away in the
final minutes.
Jared Strode led UNA with 26 points.
Miller added 15 points for the Lions,
while Brett Jackson and Shannon added 10
points apiece. Brandon Friedel hit
7-of-9 shots from 3-point range and
finished with 27 points for Arkansas
Tech.
"Tech made plenty of three-point shots
with several of them coming after they
got an offensive rebound," Champagne
said. "We were a little tougher than
Ouachita Baptist on Friday, but we were
not as tough as Arkansas Tech was
tonight.
"We played well in spurts, but we just
are not getting a consistent team effort
over 40 minutes. Playing well in spurts
is not good enough to win on the road in
this league."
UNA will return to action Tuesday at
Miles College. Tip-off is set for 7pm.
12.01.09
LIONS DROP A PAIR
Lions Drop Tough Road Game at Delta State
After taking an 8-point lead at the half
Delta State held off several North
Alabama charges during the final 20
minutes to come away with a 75-70
victory in Silers Coliseum.
Joe McCray led four DSU players in
double figures with 17 points for the
Statesmen (3-2), while Rodderick Ollie
added 14 points , Dmitry Pirshing 13 and
Marqueys Brown 11. Brown also had a
team-high 12 rebounds.
Facing a 36-28 halftime deficit, the
Lions (2-3 cut the lead to one point on
three different occasions and took the
lead with just over five minutes to
play. A three pointer by Jared Strode
put UNA on top 61-60 with 5:09
remaining.
Strode, who lead all scorers with 18
points, later hit a pair of free throws
to put the Lions on top 65-63, but Delta
State closed out the game with a 12-5
run to earn the win.
Rory Miller added 14 and 7 rebounds and
Warrick Mastin had a season-high 14
points for the visiting Lions. Daviel
Clements also added 10 points for UNA.
The Lions rebounded troubles continued
as the Statesmen held a 49-30 rebounding
advantage.
UNA travels to Arkansas for a two game
swing versus Ouachita Baptist and #23
Arkansas Tech next weekend. The Lions
lost their final game of the 08-09
season to ATU and defeated the OBU
Tigers earlier this season 90-64.
Tip-off is set for 7:00pm on Friday and
6:00pm on Saturday.
Christian Brothers Hands UNA Second Loss
of the Season
The University of North Alabama men s
basketball team was unable to overcome a
14-point half-time deficit Saturday
evening during a 70-61 road loss to
Christian Brothers. After trailing 34-20
at the break, the Lions outscored CBU
41-36 over the final 20 minutes, getting
as close as five points down the
stretch. UNA, however, would never be
able to take the lead, falling to 2-2 on
the year with both losses coming at the
hands of the Bucs.
Zack Warner had a game-high 23 points to
lead CBU (3-2). North Alabama had three
players reach double digits in scoring,
including Rory Miller s 16 points on the
night. Daviel Clements added 11 points
for the Lions while Jared Strode toss in
10 for the game.
As it did during its season-opening
78-65 win over the Lions, Christian
Brothers (3-2) again dominated the
boards. On Saturday, CBU held a 44-27
advantage in the category, including 15
offensive rebounds that led to 10
second-chance points.
UNA was able to defend the three-point
basket better in the rematch. The Bucs
hit 14 three-pointers in the first
meeting, but only went 5-of-25 from
beyond the arc the second game.
After trailing by as many as 16 points
early in the second half, UNA was able
to stay in the game by hitting 16-of-32
shots (50 percent) from the floor in the
final period. A three-pointer by
Clements made the score 58-53 with 5:22
remaining.
The Bucs got a layup by Warner on the
ensuing possession to push the lead back
to seven points and were able to hold on
down the stretch.
The Lions will continue their road swing
against Gulf South Conference West
Division teams on Monday against Delta
State. Tip-off is set for 8 p.m. at
Walter Sillers Coliseum on the DSU
campus.
11.25.09
LIONS DEFEAT OBU TIGERS
Jared Strode had 25 of his game-high 31
points in the first half as the
University of North Alabama men s
basketball team cruised to a 90-64
victory over Ouachita Baptist Saturday
evening at Flowers Hall. The second
straight win gives UNA a 2-1 record on
the season while the Tigers fall to 0-2.
Strode, a senior from Winchester, KY,
hit three straight three-point shots in
the opening stanza to begin the rout. He
helped the Lions close the half on a
25-11 run as the Lions took a 47-20 lead
to the locker room.
"Strode was very active for us in the
first half," coach Bobby Champagne said.
"We got in a little foul trouble in the
post and went with a smaller lineup. He
did a good job at the four spot and
really attacked the basket."
Champgane said a change in defenses also
helped the Lions get the momentum in the
first half."We got in a 2-3 zone and did
a good job in it." he said. "We did a
much better job contesting shots and
rebounding. We went back to it later in
the second half and did a good job in it
again."
In the second half, UNA led by as many
as 33 points as three other players
reached double digits in scoring. Jacobe
Shannon added 15 points for the Lions
while Rory Miller and Eric Wormely
tossed in 10 points each.
North Alabama was 16-for-30 in each half
to finish at 53.3 percent from the
floor. The Lions were also 10-for-22
from three-point range, including four
each from Strode and Shannon.
Austin Mitchell paced Ouachita Baptist
(0-2) with 17 points.
Trent McCants come off the bench to
contribute six assists for the Lions.
Strode also had six of UNA's 18 steals.
"Everybody came in and contributed
tonight," Champagne said. "Trent and
Jacobe were very active in the zone and
gave us some energy. Trent also did a
good job pushing the ball up the floor
and helping us get some baskets in
transition."
The Lions will be off a week before
traveling to Christian Brothers next
Saturday for a 6 p.m. tip-off. The Bucs
defeated the Lions 78-65 at Flowers Hall
on Nov. 15 to open the season.
11.20.09
LIONS GET WIN OVER HENDERSON STATE
Daviel Clements scored 20 of his
game-high 34 points in the second half
as the University of North Alabama men s
basketball team rallied to beat
Henderson State 95-86 Thursday evening
at Flowers Hall.
After trailing 55-49 at the half, the
Lions held HSU to just 31 points over
the final 20 minutes to pick up their
first win of the season.
Clements was 12-of-18 from the floor and
was 9-of-13 from three-point range to
tie a school record. His nine
three-pointers ties Milton Nance s mark
set in 2006 against Arkansas Tech. he 17
points in a five minute span midway
through the second half to help the
Lions claim the region win.
The Lions trailed by six at the break
after Henderson State closed the half on
a 24-12 run. The Reddies largest lead
was seven after a free throw in the
opening minutes made the score 56-49.
UNA responded with nine straight points
to take a 58-56 lead at the 13:43 mark.
From there, the Lions took control with
a 21-7 run keyed by Clements 14 points.
The junior from Jessup, GA, had four
three-pointers and a layup during the
spurt as North Alabama took a 79-63 lead
with 6:36 remaining.
Henderson State made a late run but ran
out of time. A three-pointer by Kyle
Oldham with 19 second remaining made the
final score 95-86.
Jared Strode added 20 points for the
Lions while Eddie Lima tossed in a
career-high 14 points. Marquel
Darrington also recorded six assists on
the night.
UNA will host Ouachita Baptist Saturday
at home. Tip-off is set for 7 p.m. at
Flowers Hall.
GULF
SOUTH CONFERENCE PLAYER OF THE WEEK
North Alabama guard Jared Strode (SR,
6-5, 200, Winchester, KY).
Strode earns his first-ever honor after
an outstanding individual effort in
UNA's 78-65 opening season setback at
home versus Christian Brothers.
The senior led all players with 29
points while adding three assists and
three rebounds in 33 minutes. The
Winchester, KY native shot 55.0 percent
from the floor, 42.9 percent from beyond
the arc and was 4-for-4 from the foul
line.
11.16.09
LIONS LOSE OPENER
Christian Brothers shot 48 percent from
the floor and made 14 three-point shots
in a 78-65 victory over North Alabama
Sunday afternoon at Flowers Hall. In the
season-opener for both teams, the
visiting Buccaneers used a 13-0 run
midway through the opening half to break
a 10-10 tie and never trailed again.
Jared Strode had a game-high 29 points
for the Lions, but CBU had four players
reach double digits in scoring. The Bucs
were 9-of-20 from three-point range in
the first half and took a 41-25 lead at
the break. Jimmy Palmer connected on a
long-range three-pointer at the buzzer
to give the visiting team the 16-point
advantage.
A lack of rebounding spoiled the start
to North Alabama's season. Christian
Brothers consistently got second shots
and took advantage of those
opportunities. The Buccaneers held a
47-30 edge on the boards and scored 20
points off of their 15 offensive
rebounds. Christian Brothers also hit 14
3-pointers to just seven for the Lions.
"I expected us to be a good rebounding
team this year because we have size,
quickness and athleticism," Coach Bobby
Champagne said. "But it doesn't matter
how athletic you are when you don't put
a body on the other guy and box out.
Christian Brothers is going to hit some
3s and get some layups, but you just
can't let them get rebounds when they
miss."
The Lions used a 7-0 run to cut it to
33-21 after Strode scored on a dunk and
converted it into a three-point play.
But CBU hit two more treys in the final
minute, including a buzzer-beater by
Jimmy Palmer that banked in, giving the
Buccaneers a 41-25 halftime advantage.
"We missed several layups early and got
behind," Champagne said. "When they got
the lead, it let them get in their
comfort zone and they are a hard team to
play from behind."
Two 3-pointers by Brett Jackson and
Strode sparked a UNA 9-0 run to trim a
19-point deficit to 10 at 55-44 with
9:36 remaining. After forcing a turnover
on the ensuing possession, the Lions had
the opportunity to get the lead in
single digits, but could not get the
shot to fall. The Buccaneers then hit
three 3-pointers in the next three
minutes to extend their lead to 69-52.
"It was obvious that our guys are still
learning to play together," Champagne
said. "Christian Brothers has more of a
veteran team and it showed. We'll be
fine. We just have to get our guys to
come together as a team."
Daviel Clements also reached double
figures in scoring with 11 points for
the Lions.
UNA will host Henderson State on
Thursday. Tip-off is set for 8 p.m. at
Flowers Hall.
11.05.09
LIONS FALL AT MIDDLE TENNESSEE
MURFREESBORO, TN, - Middle Tennessee had
five players reach double digits in
scoring during a 99-60 victory over
North Alabama Monday evening in men's
basketball exhibition play. The Blue
Raiders held a 52-35 lead at the half
and shot 56 percent from the floor over
the final 20 minutes to secure the home
victory.
Rory Miller had 17 points to lead UNA.
Eric Wormely and Jared Strode added 10
points each as the Lions wrapped up
exhibition play and prepare for their
season opener Sunday against Christian
Brothers.
A lay-up by Miller gave North Alabama a
17-13 lead with 13:40 remaining in the
opening half. The Blue Raiders, however,
responded with a 20-5 run to go ahead
33-22 at the 7:16 mark. A three-point
basket by Daviel Clements cut the lead
to 33-25, but MTSU countered with a
three-pointer by J.T. Sulton and the
Lions could never get the deficit to
single digits again.
Sulton finished with 17 points for
Middle Tennessee while the Blue Raiders'
Montarrio Haddock led all scorers with
25 points on the night.
Sunday's season-opener against CBU will
feature the last two teams to win the
NCAA Division II South Region
Tournament. After UNA won the regional
in 2008, Christian Brothers became the
second straight Gulf South Conference
team to advance to the Elite Eight last
season. Tip-off is set for 3 p.m. at
Flowers Hall.
11.02.09
No. 10 TENNESSEE TOO MUCH FOR UNA MEN
IN EXHIBITION PLAY
KNOXVILLE, Tenn., - Scotty Hopson led
seven Tennessee players in double digits
as Division I's 10th-ranked Volunteers
pulled away from North Alabama for a
117-79 victory in NCAA men's exhibition
basketball action Friday evening at
Thompson-Boling Arena on the UT campus.
Tennessee led 58-41 at the break and
held a 19-point advantage with 17:51
remaining before a 16-4 run put the game
out of reach.
Jared Strode led UNA with 20 points on
the night. The senior transfer from
Northwest Shoals Community College was
7-of-20 from the field and added six
free throws.
Daviel Clements added 17 points for the
Lions while Eric Wormely tossed in 11
points on the night.
Tennessee did most of its damage on the
boards. The Vols out-rebounding UNA
46-30, including 15 on offense. Eddie
Lima led the Lions with six rebounds in
the game.
UNA now turns its attention to its Nov.
15 season opener when it hosts defending
South Region champion Christian
Brothers. Tip-off is set for 3 p.m. at
Flowers Hall.
10.29.09
TIME
TO TIP IT OFF
North Alabama will take on the University
of Tennessee Friday night in men's
basketball exhibition action. Tip-off is
set for 7 30 p.m. at Thompson-Boling
Arena on the UT campus. Live audio,
video and statistics can be found by
following the men's basketball links at
www.utsports.com.
UNA is coming off an 18-10 season from
the 2008-09 campaign. The Lions will
display vast numbers of newcomers after
graduating all five starters from a year
ago. Overall, UNA returns three
lettermen and will feature 11 newcomers
to the 2009-10 roster.
The Volunteers return all five starters
from a 21-13 squad last season.
Tennessee advanced to the NCAA Division
I Men's Basketball Tournament in
2009 before dropping a 77-75 first-round
game to Oklahoma State.
10.20.09
UNA
PICKED SECOND BY GULF SOUTH CONFERENCE
COACHES
FLORENCE, AL -- With no returning starters
and just two lettermen back from last
year's team, University of North Alabama
men's basketball coach Bobby Champagne
admits that he was a little surprised
when he found out that his team has been
picked to finish second in the Gulf
South Conference East Division race in
2009-10 by the league's head coaches.
UNA lost all five starters and eight
lettermen from last year's team that
went 18-10 and finished second in the
East Division. Nevertheless, the Lions
received 20 points and one first-place
vote in this year's pre-season poll to
rank second behind Valdosta State.
"We look forward to another competitive
GSC race this season," Champagne said.
"I have to admit that I was a little
surprised by the vote. I am not sure
what the other coaches know that I
don't. I am still trying to learn
everyone's name much less know what they
can do to help us win games." Champagne
said the vote may have something to do
with past success. "The University of
North Alabama and its basketball program
have a strong tradition and a long
history of success and those factors
usually have something to do with the
pre-season polls," Champagne said.
Valdosta State was the overall favorite
to not only win the East Division and
GSC Tournament titles, with Delta State
as the favorite in the West. VSU got 25
points and five first-place votes in the
East, followed by UNA with 20 points and
one first-place vote. UAH was third,
followed by West Alabama, West Georgia
and West Florida.
No UNA players were selected for the
pre-season All-GSC team but forwards
Eric Wormely and Jared Strode were
listed among the league s top newcomers.
Wormely, a Joliet, IL native, is a
6-feet-8, 230- pound senior transfer
from Ball State University. Strode, from
Winchester, Ky., is a 6-5, 190-pound
transfer from Crichton College. Wormely
and Strode join eight other newcomers,
and seniors Dough Hunter and Eddie Lima,
juniors Trent McCants and Jacobe
Shannon, sophomore Brett Jackson and
redshirt freshman Marquel Darrington.
Hunter and McCants are the returning
letterman.
09.21.09
2009-10 SCHEDULE RELEASED
The 2009-10 University of North Alabama
men s basketball schedule has been
announced by seventh-year head men s
basketball coach Bobby Champagne. The
schedule features a full Gulf South
Conference schedule along with 13 home
games at Flowers Hall. The Lions will
take on four teams that were a part of
the 2009 NCAA Division II Tournament.
The healthy home schedule for the Lions
in 2009-10 season does not bode well for
the opposition visiting Flowers Hall
where the Lions are currently 31-7
during the regular season over the past
three seasons and have one 71% of their
games under Coach Champagne.
We definitely have another challenging
schedule ahead of us, noted Champagne. I
believe that our overall schedule is as
tough as it has been since I have been
here at UNA. UNA will look to return to
the NCAA Tournament for the thirteenth
time in school history, playing 23
Division II south region games with 22
of those games coming against Gulf South
Conference opponents.
The first scheduled home game for the
UNA Lions is November 15 versus
defending NCAA South Region champion
Christian Brothers. UNA is 5-1 in home
openers under Champagne with the lone
loss coming in his first season to
eventual National Champion Kennesaw
State. North Alabama will remain at home
for the next two games, hosting GSC East
Division rival Henderson State on
November 19 followed by Ouachita Baptist
November 21. The Lions will close out
the month of November with road games
against Christian Brothers (28th) and
Delta State (30th).
UNA will open play in December with an
Arkansas road swing, including trips to
Ouachita Baptist on December 4 and
defending GSC Champion Arkansas Tech the
following night. After a trip to
Birmingham on December 8 to face SIAC
member Miles College, the Lions will
return to Flowers Hall for three home
games. The Lions will entertain Martin
Methodist December 15, the Wonder Boys
of Arkansas Tech December 19 and the
Harding Bison on December 21 before the
semester.
UNA will open the New Year with a return
trip to Arkansas for a pair of games
versus Arkansas-Monticello (2nd) and
Southern Arkansas (4th). Beginning
January 7, UNA switches almost
exclusively to conference play. UNA will
host Valdosta and West Georgia and go on
the road to West Alabama,
Alabama-Huntsville and West Florida. The
Lions will conclude the January portion
of the schedule with a home game versus
Concordia and a road contest against
Lambuth.
The Lions will flip the schedule in
February playing road games at Valdosta
State and West Georgia while playing
host to West Alabama, Alabama-Huntsville
and West Florida. The February schedule
ends with two non-conference games. A
road game versus Harding and the final
home game of the season against Lambuth.
The 2010 Gulf South conference
Tournament returns to Southaven, MS for
the third consecutive year beginning
Friday, March 5 and running through
Sunday March 7. A format change this
year will have only the top four teams
from each division instead of the top
five. UNA will look to make its seventh
consecutive trip to the GSC Tournament.
The 2010 NCAA Tournament begins March
12-13 at eight regional sites across the
country. Springfield, MA will host the
Elite 8 and National Championship game
beginning March 24.
07.09.09
JOHNSON A FINALIST FOR GSC COMMISSIONER'S
TROPHY
For the second straight year, North
Alabama's Kenny Johnson was among the
top five male finalists for the Gulf
South Conference Commissioner's Trophy.
After receiving multiple post-season
awards for athletics and academics
during the 2008-09 campaign, the
standout out point guard of the Lion
men's basketball team was invited to
attend the annual GSC Awards Banquet in
Pensacola, to receive the conference
honor.
The Plaquemine, LA, native capped off his
senior year by earning the GSC East
Division Player of the Year award while
placing second in the league in
assist/turnover ratio (3.71), third in
assists (5.04), fifth in free throw
percentage (.813:-100-123) and ninth in
steals (1.64). He was named first team
All-GSC and was tabbed first team
all-region by Daktronics and the
National Association of Basketball
Coaches (NABC).
Johnson also received honorable mention
All-America honors by the Division II
Bulletin. He completed his collegiate
playing career on the court in March
when he was among 20 players selected to
participate in the NABC All-Star Game
which was held at the Naismith Memorial
Basketball Hall of Fame in Springfield,
Mass.
Having also strived in the classroom,
Johnson made a return appearance to the
GSC All-Academic Team thanks to a 3.45
overall GPA. as a business
administration major with a
concentration on computer information
systems. He was a leader within the
Lions' athletic community, serving on
the UNA Student-Athlete Advisory
Committee and received the UNA
Student-Athlete Volunteer of the Year
Award. His duties on campus included
working the "Kids Zone" on Spirit Hill
at home football games and the UNA
"Kid's Fun Night" at Flowers Hall.
The local community also benefited from
Johnson's volunteer spirit. He was a key
participant in the "Reading with the
Lions" program, which gave UNA
student-athletes the opportunity to read
to young students at five different
elementary schools. Johnson also worked
the America Red Cross Blood Drive which
was organized by the men's basketball
team. He also participated in the
wheelchair basketball games and served
at the Boys and Girls Clubs and The
Florence City Father/Son Initiative.
Johnson's recognition in the "Top Ten" is
the eighth back-to-back men's selection
following Lion baseball star Douglas
Harrgett (2001 and 2002). The
Commissioner's Trophy, is highest honor
bestowed by the conference and one of
the most prestigious individual honors
in Division II. Winners for the 2008-09
were Christian Brothers' Stephen Hill
and Henderson State's Bethany Wright.
RELIVE THE RUN TO THE ELITE 8
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