UAH proves too much for UNA men’s basketball

In a game that UNA needed to have to build on its post-season resume, UAH proved too much with a blowout win at UAH.

The Lions (15-11) had no answer on defense, as six players reached double figures in scoring as fourth-ranked Alabama-Huntsville picked up a 90-68 home win over the Lions.

Led by senior Josh Magette’s triple-double, the Chargers improved to 23-3 on the season and heads into next week’s Gulf South Conference Tournament as the league’s top seed.

“It was a game of spurts, and unfortunately our offensive droughts came when their offense was clicking,” said head coach Bobby Champagne. “They got a great ball club, and they’re the No. 4 team in the country for a reason.”

The Chargers never trailed after opening the game on an 11-0 run and leading by as many as 15 in the opening 20 minutes of play.

The Lions were able to make a 15-2 run to get within striking distance in the first half. Wes Long got three-straight three-point baskets before jumpers by Nick Luttrell and Nathan Spehr and a dunk by Theron Jenkins made the score 22-20 with 9:05 remaining in the half.

That was as close as the Lions would get for the rest of the game, as the Chargers ended the half on a 27-17 run to carry a 51-39 lead into halftime.

In the second half, the Chargers used a balanced attack, getting scoring from eight different players and contributing between seven and 14 points on the night. Magette finished the game with 14 points, 10 assists and 13 rebounds.

The Chargers continued to build to their lead and won with a final score of 90-68.

“They’re No. 4 for a reason,” Luttrell said. “I mean, we had our chances; had them on the ropes cutting the lead down, and we blew it. It’s now a one-game season, and we got to win to keep our season going.”

With the regular season over, the Lions have to make a deep run in the conference tournament to have any hope in reaching the NCAA tournament.

“We have to do it the old-fashioned way and win the conference tourney, and it’s not going to be easy,” Champagne said. “We either survive and advance or get kicked off the island.”

The Lions will take on fourth-seeded West Florida March 2 in Niceville, Fla. Tip-off times for first-round games will be announced early next week.