UNA outscores Clemson in second half but drops road matchup
North Alabama fell 81-61 on the road at Clemson on Nov. 17 in its second nationally televised game of the season. It was broadcasted on ACC Network, following their Mississippi State appearance on SEC Network earlier this month.
Redshirt junior Corneilous Williams was named ASUN Player of the Week in the conference’s second set of weekly awards for the season. Williams has been dominant, posting a career-high 28 points along with 16 rebounds, three steals, three assists, and two blocks against Northwestern State last Tuesday. His performance last week lifted him to averages of 17.5 points and 14 rebounds per game. He ranks third in the NCAA with 53 total rebounds and fifth in the country with 13.3 boards per game. The honor marks the third weekly award of his two seasons at UNA.
This was the first-ever meeting between UNA and Clemson, and it came against one of the top-ranked opponents on the Lions’ schedule. Clemson entered the contest averaging just six turnovers per game, the fewest in the NCAA, but UNA’s pressure forced them into 12, doubling their season average.
Sophomore Kevin de Kovachich led UNA with 12 points, knocking down three of his six from behind the arc. Senior forward Donte Bacchus added 10 points, while sixth year senior Dallas Howell chipped in eight points and a team-high five rebounds.
UNA opened the game with energy as de Kovachich scored the first points after a steal by Dallas Howell. The Tigers shot nearly 50 percent for most of the half, finishing 17 of 34 from the field, while UNA went 10 of 31 and just 2 of 14 from three. The Lions made only one trip to the free-throw line in the opening half due to an and-one from de Kovachich.
Despite the tough start, UNA came out strong in the second half, scoring five quick points in the first two minutes. With Williams out, senior center Jamal Albritton provided a spark with a tip-in layup, followed by another de Kovachich three that forced a Clemson timeout at the 18:19 mark. The Lions held the second-half edge in scoring, finished with 22 points off the bench, and won the turnover margin 9-3 after the break.
UNA returns to action on Nov. 22 to face Chattanooga away at 3:30 p.m.
