FLORENCE, Ala. (February 18, 2025) – North Alabama locked up its first 20 win season since 2013-14 on Tuesday night inside CB&S Bank Arena, using a dominant second half to complete the season sweep of West Georgia by an 80-62 final.
The Lions improve to 20-8 overall and 12-3 in the Atlantic Sun Conference, putting UNA alone in first place in the league standings. UNA also extends an 11-game home winning streak that dates back to November, while riding a current six-game win streak. UNA is now 8-0 at home during conference play.
West Georgia falls to 5-22 overall and 3-12 in the league. The Wolves are in their first season at the Division I level.
Junior guard Jacari Lane achieved two Division I school records on the same night, leading the Lions with 22 points and three assists. With his scoring, Lane broke UNA’s Division I scoring record with 1,355 career points. He passed the former record holder, Jamari Blackmon, for sixth on the school’s all-time scoring list.
Lane also broke his own Division I school record for assists in a season with 123. He broke the record as a freshman with 108 assists and broke his own record as a sophomore with 122. He accomplishes this with three regular season games remaining.
Redshirt sophomore Corneilous Williams was also instrumental in the win, scoring 11 points with a game-high 12 rebounds for his ninth double-double this season. Williams is the leading rebounder in the ASUN with 9.1 rebounds per game.
Two more Lions reached double figures with seniors Taye Fields and Daniel Ortiz combining for 27 points in the win. Fields added seven rebounds and went a perfect 8-8 at the free throw line. Ortiz had three assists and two triples. The bench added 16 points with six each from junior Donte Bacchus and freshman DarKaun King.
The Lions started slower than usual, but never trailed and led by six at the halftime break. UNA gradually raised the lead and finished with its largest lead of 18 points by the end.
West Georgia was led by Shelton Williams-Dryden with 27 points and 10 boards.
HOW IT HAPPENED
First Half: UNA started the game with a dunk by Corneilous Williams to set the tone with a 6-0 run. Despite trailing 18-6, the Wolves clawed back into it and made it a one-point game at the 8:27 mark of the half, down 19-18. The teams were shooting around 50 percent most of the half, but the Lions finished above it at 51 percent and UWG shot 44 percent. The Lions turned a 21-20 lead into a 37-26 lead in the span of five minutes, then maintained the two possession lead at the break, up 37-31.
Second Half: The second half left no doubt, though West Georgia made it interesting early in the first seven minutes, down two possessions. However, UNA went on a 7-0 run to make it 56-44 and extend the lead to double digits. Another dunk by Williams and three free throws by Ortiz aided the run. UNA led by double digits for the final 11 minutes, including 10 second half points from Lane.
INSIDE THE NUMBERS
UNA finished 28-55 for 51 percent. UWG shot 27-61 for 44 percent.
Corneilous Williams finishes two games with West Georgia with a total of 31 rebounds to average 15.5 in the two games.
Despite the win, UNA only made two three-point shots — both from Ortiz. The Lions went 2-13 for 15.4 percent, which is the second-lowest total this season.
UNA made up for the behind the arc performance by going 26-42 inside the arc. This equates to 62 percent. UNA also had its second-highest free throw total, going 22-29 for 76 percent. UWG went just 4-8 from the line.
Both teams used the paint, as UNA had a 46-40 scoring advantage.
UNA won the turnover battle 13-5, which ties for the second-lowest total this season. UNA is among the top five teams nationally in turnovers with just 9.0 per game.
UNA had a 10-2 advantage in steals and a 16-4 advantage in fast break points.
UNA did not trail in a game for the fourth time in five games.
6 - This is the number of free boneless wings that fans can retrieve at the Buffalo Wild Wings location in Florence after every UNA win with the purchase of six wings. Fans are encouraged to show their ticket or the social media graphic to retrieve the offer.
80 - Anytime the Lions score 80 or more points, fans who attended the game can go to Rosie's Cantina in Downtown Florence to get a free cup of queso. Fans must show proof of attendance to retrieve.
60 - Anytime the Lions score 60 or more points, fans can head to Culver's on Cloverdale Road to retrieve a free single scoop of custard by using the online code "CUSTARD4LIONS" as part of the "Swish for a Dish" promotion.
COMING UP NEXT
The Lions hit the road for a highly-anticipated ASUN rematch at Lipscomb. Tipoff is set for 7 p.m. in Nashville. Lipscomb is one game back of UNA for first place with an 11-4 league record.
