The UNA Mens Basketball team lost to the Eastern Kentucky Colonels 72-81 on Jan 13 at Flowers Hall. They dragged behind at the end of the first quarter at 33-45 but returned and scored more than their opponents in the second half at 39-36. This second-half comeback was not enough to save the Lions and ended the three-home game streak in a heartbreaker.
The starting lineup for the Lions was guards Senior KJ Johnson and Sophomore Jacari Lane and forwards: Senior Tim Smith Jr, Senior Damian Forrest and Junior Dallas Howell. This year is the fiftieth anniversary of UNA’s name change from the former “Florence State University” so the lion donned a throwback uniform depicting the “Florence State Lions” name.
Lions took control of the game early on with the first points scored by sophomore guard, Jacari Lane, with a three-pointer. Less than a minute later, EKU scored twice — three-pointer and layup — putting them ahead. EKU holds the ASUN preseason Defensive Player of the Year — Isaiah Cozart. But Senior Damian Forrest held his own against the title holder.
Cozart put up 11 points for the Colonels, four coming from dunks in the first half. Lane led all players with a game-high 19 points for the Lions at the end of the first half. The Lions struggled to put points on the board early on, but towards the end, they managed to get the ball rolling.
The Lions put it in high gear and scored back to back to get the score difference in the single digits. EKU had a four-minute dry stint which allowed grad student Tim Smith Jr., to put a three up with less than two minutes left in the game. The colonels put 8 points up this time and the lions were unable to recover.
Fouls riddled the game on both sides, the Lions ended the game with 17 fouls and one technical foul against the team. The colonels had 19 fouls, claiming the first and last fouls of the game.
The Lions are now on the road for three games. Starting at Austin Peay University in Clarkesville, TN on Jan 18 at 7 pm. The game can be listened to on 98.3 or 103.5 FM or watched on ESPN+.
