The Tigers
(8-14, 1-6 GSC) got off to a great
start jumping out to their largest
lead of the game at 12-4 five
minutes deep into the contest. UNA
(18-7, 5-2 GSC) trimmed the deficit
to one point at 21-20 at the 9:42
mark of the opening half and would
take its first lead of the game to
begin a 12-0 run to push the lead
out to double figures at 32-22. The
Purple and Gold, who drained 7-of 12
three-pointers in the first 20
minutes, took its largest lead of 16
points just seconds before the
halftime horn sounded. The Lions
took a 42-29 lead into the
intermission. UWA mustered up just
seven points in the final 7:44 of
the opening frame.
UWA opened the
second half with a run of its own,
out-scoring the Lions 11-4 coming
out of the dressing room and trimmed
the lead down to single digits at
49-41 with 16:55 remaining in the
game. The Red and White stormed
back to trim the Lion advantage down
to one possession at the 8:50 mark,
but the Lions weathered the Tiger
charge and pushed the lead back out
to double figures two minutes
later. Senior Layton Knight’s trey
with just over four minutes left in
the affair brought UWA within eight
points at 72-64 but the UNA answered
by scoring the game’s next seven
points.
The Tigers had
trouble containing the Lions from
behind the arc, with UNA connecting
on 40 percent from that area. UNA’s
Quinn Beckwith drilled seven treys
en route to posting game-high
scoring honors with 24 points in 33
minutes of action. Kenny Johnson
was credited with 17 points and
dished out six assists. Casey Holt
turned in a double-double with 15
points and 12 rebounds. Fraise
Thomas closed out the double figure
scoring for the Lions with 11
points.
Juniors Maurice
Naylor and Glenn Miles each scored
15 points to lead all Tiger
scorers. Naylor pulled down six
boards while Miles grabbed eight.
Kevin Johnson added seven points in
the setback.
UWA will trip
to West Georgia on Saturday, Feb.
16, before heading to UAH on Monday,
Feb. 18.
