After entering the game leading the NCAA Division I in blocks, Jarvis Varnardo kept pace against the Lions, getting seven in the game to help hand UNA its first loss of the season.

The Lions (2-1) were led by senior Thomas Fraise, who recorded a game-high 17 points. Jarelle Redden added 16 points for UNA while Kenny Johnson tossed in 10.

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• RELATED STORY:  FRAISE NAMED GSC EAST PLAYER OF THE WEEK

STARKVILLE, Miss., – The North Alabama men’s basketball team will put its 2-0 record on the line against Division I Mississippi State Wednesday evening on the road. The Lions travel to Starkville, Miss., for a regular-season game against the Southeastern Conference foe in the opening round of the Legends Classic.

MONTEVALLO -- A three-point basket by Kenny Johnson with 2:18 left in the game put the University of North Alabama ahead for good as the Lions rallied from a nine-point second half deficit to down Palm Beach Atlantic 76-68 in the Montevallo Tipoff Classic.

MONTEVALLO, Ala. -- The University of North Alabama men's basketball team hit 10 three-point baskets and dominated the boards as the Lions opened their 2008-09 season with an impressive 83-71 win over Shaw at the BankTrust Arena at Montevallo.

MURFREESBORO, Tenn., – Desmond Yates scored 25 points and Middle Tennessee converted 22 North Alabama turnovers into 29 points and pulled away for a 75-57 home victory over the Lions Thursday evening in exhibition play. The Blue Raiders held a 34-28 lead at the half before outscoring UNA 41-29 over the final 20 minutes to secure the win.

OXFORD, Miss., – The Ole Miss men’s basketball team out-scored North Alabama 63-38 in the second half to pull away for a 115-81 home victory over the Lions in exhibition play Friday evening at Tad Smith Coliseum.

Birmingham, Ala. -- Coming off an Elite Eight finish in 2007-08, the University of North Alabama men's basketball team is the pre-season favorite of the Gulf South Conference coaches to win the 2008-09 league championship.

FLORENCE – The University of North Alabama men’s basketball team will have 13 home dates during the 2008-09 season, along with road trips to Las Vegas and two SEC schools. UNA head coach Bobby Champagne has released this season’s upcoming slate, featuring 27 regular-season contests and two exhibition games.

FLORENCE –University of North Alabama head basketball coach Bobby Champagne has announced the signing of Trinity Presbyterian’s Marquel Darrington for the 2008-09 academic year.

INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. -- After posting a 27-9 record in 2007-08 that included a berth in the NCAA Division II Elite Eight, the University of North Alabama men's basketball team also took a prominent position in the final NCAA statistics released Tuesday.

FLORENCE -- University of North Alabama senior forward Casey Holt of Culleoka, Tenn., has been named honorable mention All-American by the Division II Bulletin. Holt has previously been honored as first-team All-Gulf South Conference, GSC East Division Player of the Year, three-time GSC Player of the Week, first-team Daktronics All-South Region, first-team NABC All-South Region and to the All-South Region Tournament team.

SPRINGFIELD, Mass. – Top ranked Bentley seized the momentum midway through the first half and went on to a 102-92 win over North Alabama in the quarterfinal round of the NCAA Division II Elite Eight at the MassMutual Center.

Springfield, Mass. - On their second day in Springfield, Mass., for the Elite Eight, the University of North Alabama men's basketball team visited the Morgan Square Nursery School at Faith Church, toured ESPN's Bristol, Conn., headquarters with former UNA soccer player and current ESPN employee Alison Woodman, went through a 55-minute practice session at the Mass Mutual Center, attended a press conference and closed the day with a banquet at the Basketball Hall of Fame.

Springfield, Mass. - The Lions arrived early Monday afternoon in Springfield, Mass. to begin preparations for their Elite Eight match-up against No. 1 ranked Bentley on Wednesday. 

FLORENCE -- Fresh off an NCAA South Region Championship, the University of North Alabama men's basketball team will resume its pursuit of the school's third basketball National Championship on Wednesday against undefeated Bentley at the Elite Eight in Springfield, Mass.

LAKELAND, Fla., – The University of North Alabama men’s basketball team saved its best performance at the South Region Tournament for the championship game Tuesday evening, defeating Benedict 97-75 to claim the school’s eighth regional title.

LAKELAND, Fla. -- The University of North Alabama men's basketball team will be going for its eighth regional championship and a trip to the NCAA Division II Elite Eight Tuesday night when the Lions take on Benedict College in the South Region Championship Game.

LAKELAND, Fla., – Kenny Johnson scored 23 points and dished out eight assists to lead the University of North Alabama men’s basketball team to a 99-93 overtime win over Ouachita Baptist Sunday evening in the semi-finals of the South Regional Tournament in Lakeland, Fla.

LAKELAND, Fla., – A three-point play by Casey Holt with 21 seconds remaining capped 22-9 run over the final eight minutes and lifted the North Alabama men’s basketball team to a 72-71 come-from-behind victory over Christian Brothers Saturday in the opening round of the 2008 South Region Tournament in Lakeland, Fla.

FLORENCE -- University of North Alabama senior forward Casey Holt of Culleoka, Tenn., has been selected first-team All-South Region by Daktronics and the NCAA Division II Sports Information Directors.

SOUTHAVEN, Miss. – The University of North Alabama’s drive for a Gulf South Conference men’s basketball title came to an end Saturday as the Lions came out on the short end of a hard-fought 80-69 loss to Christian Brothers in the semifinal round of the tournament.

SOUTHAVEN, Miss. – The University of North Alabama built a nine-point halftime lead and rolled to an 18-point 87-69 win over Arkansas-Monticello in the quarterfinal round of the Gulf South Conference Men’s Basketball Tournament.

KANSAS CITY, Mo. - For the first time since 1991, the University of North Alabama men's basketball team has cracked the Top 10  in the NABC/Division II coaches poll. UNA, 23-7 overall, debuted in the poll at No. 23 and moved up four spots last week. The Lions are riding an eight-game winning streak entering Friday's quarterfinal round in the Gulf South Conference Basketball Tournament.

BIRMINGHAM, AL - Having already claimed the Gulf South Conference East Division title, the University of North Alabama men’s basketball team also laid claim to the GSC’s top individual awards Tuesday when Casey Holt was named GSC East Division Player of the Year and Bobby Champagne was chosen GSC East Division Coach of the Year.

FLORENCE -- The University of North Alabama men's basketball team still ranks as the top team in the NCAA Division II South Region in the latest rankings released Wednesday.

FLORENCE – Trailing by seven points with 2:39 remaining, things looked bleak for the 19th-ranked North Alabama men’s basketball team.

HUNTSVILLE - Andrew Chesney hit four three-pointers and scored a game-high 25 points as the University of North Alabama men's basketball team clinched the Gulf South Conference East Division championship with a 66-56 road win over in-state rival Alabama-Huntsville Saturday evening at Spragins Hall.

FLORENCE -- The University of North Alabama men's basketball team jumped two spots to No. 1 in this week's NCAA Division II Men's Basketball South Region rankings.  UNA (21-7) moved past previous No. 1 Tampa and No. 2 Florida Southern.  Four other GSC teams also made the Top 10, led by Harding which climbed one spot to No. 7.  The GSC rounded out the final three spots with Alabama-Huntsville dropping to No. 8, while Ouachita Baptist jumped one spot to No. 9 and Christian Brothers made its first appearance of the season at No. 10.

KANSAS CITY, Mo. - For the first time since December of 1994, the University of North Alabama men's basketball team has cracked the NCAA Division II Top 25 with a No. 23 ranking in the latest NABC/Division II coaches poll. 

FLORENCE – A barrage of three-point baskets in the first 20 minutes by the University of North Alabama sealed West Florida’s fate Monday as the Lions rolled to a 21-point halftime lead and an eventual 88-66 win over the Argonauts.

FLORENCE – North Alabama shot 50 percent from the floor and had three players score more than 20 points during a 94-82 home victory over Valdosta State Saturday in Gulf South Conference basketball action.

LIVINGSTON -- For the second time in three days and the fourth time this season, the University of North Alabama men’s basketball team picked up a Gulf South Conference road win Monday, downing West Alabama 86-68 at Pruitt Hall.

MONTEVALLO – After missing out on chances to win the game at the end of regulation and the first two overtimes, the North Alabama men’s basketball team was finally able to deliver the knock-out blow against homestanding Montevallo with a 109-99 triple-overtime win Saturday evening.

BIRMINGHAM – For the third time this season, officials with the Gulf South Conference have named North Alabama guard Casey Holt as the East Division’s Player of the Week.

FLORENCE -- A pair of three-point baskets by Quinn Beckwith and a layup from Casey Holt broke open a four-point game in the second half and led North Alabama to an 83-63 win over Concordia-Selma at Flowers Hall.

INDIANAPOLIS – For the first time since 2006, the University of North Alabama men’s basketball team is ranked in the NCAA Division II South Region poll, coming in at No. 3 in this season’s initial rankings.

FLORENCE -- Cody Jones scored 23 points in the second half to help lead Alabama-Huntsville to an 86-82 Gulf South Conference victory over North Alabama at Flowers Hall.

FLORENCE -- Cody Jones scored 23 points in the second half to help lead Alabama-Huntsville to an 86-82 Gulf South Conference victory over North Alabama at Flowers Hall.

FLORENCE -- North Alabama saw four players finish in double-figures and 10 different players scored as the Lions routed West Alabama 87-66 in a Gulf South Conference contest at Flowers Hall.  UNA built an early lead behind blazing three-point shooting from Quinn Beckwith and Thomas Fraise, who combined to hit eight three-pointers in the first half.

FLORENCE -- Casey Holt scored 30 points and pulled nine rebounds to lead the University of North Alabama to a 79-71 win over Montevallo in a Gulf South Conference matchup at Flowers Hall.

BIRMINGHAM – North Alabama center Thomas Fraise picked up his second Gulf South Conference East Division Player-of-the-Week award Wednesday after helping the Lions open GSC play with a 1-1 record over the weekend.

VALDOSTA, Ga. - A Casey Holt jumper with 13 seconds left forced overtime but North Alabama was outscored 13-7 in the extra period as the Lions dropped a Gulf South Conference battle at Valdosta State, 92-86.

PENSACOLA, Fla., — Thomas Fraise scored 27 points and pulled down 10 rebounds as the University of North Alabama men’s basketball team opened Gulf South Conference play with an 80-77 win over West Florida Saturday afternoon on the road.

FLORENCE – Quinn Beckwith scored 28 points and Casey Holt added the Lions’ first triple-double in the Bobby Champagne era as the University of North Alabama men’s basketball team cruised to a 119-91 victory over Carver Monday evening at Flowers Hall.

RUSSELLVILLE, Ark., – For the second straight game, the University of North Alabama men’s basketball team avenged an earlier-season loss, this time, downing Arkansas Tech 94-74 on the Wonerboys’ home floor Saturday evening.

FLORENCE – North Alabama used strong runs at the end of the first half and the opening minutes of the second half to surge to a 99-84 win over Harding Thursday evening at Flowers Hall.

FLORENCE --  Holding an 11-point lead at the half, the University of North Alabama women's basketball team managed just two-for-25 shooting over the final 20 minutes and came out on the short end of a 50-39 score to Kentucky Wesleyan in the final game of the Marriott Shoals Holiday Classic.

MONTEVALLO – Three players scored more than 20 points each as the University of North Alabama men’s basketball team opened Gulf South Conference play with a 101-94 road win against Montevallo Saturday evening.

FLORENCE -- North Alabama made nine three-point baskets and Ouachita Baptist was 0-for-13 from behind the line in the second half as the Lions downed the Tigers 78-64 at Flowers Hall.

MAGNOLIA, Ark., – North Alabama shot just 35.8 percent from the floor, including a 3-of-19 showing from three-point range in the second half as Southern Arkansas posted a 79-64 home win Thursday evening in Gulf South Conference men’s basketball action.

FLORENCE – Milton Nance scored 43 points to lead the University of North Alabama men’s basketball team to a 94-91 win over Arkansas Tech Monday evening at home.

ARKADELPHIA, Ark., - After trailing by as many as nine points in the second half, the University of North Alabama men’s basketball team was able to rally and force overtime before defeating Ouachita Baptist 98-94 Saturday evening on the road.

MEMPHIS, Tenn. -- Christian Brothers shot 67 percent from the floor and hit 12 three- pointers to drop North Alabama in a high-scoring shootout 107-94.

FLORENCE – After trailing by as many as 17 points in the first half, the University of North Alabama men’s basketball team was able to close the gap before intermission, then pull away in the second half to post a 79-68 win over Harding Thursday evening at Flowers Hall.

BIRMINGHAM – Officials with the Gulf South Conference have named North Alabama guard Quinn Beckwith as the league’s East Division Player of the Week.

RUSSELLVILLE, Ark., – Kenny Johnson’s jumper with 10 seconds remaining gave the University of North Alabama men’s basketball team a 79-78 road victory over Arkansas Tech Monday evening, snapping the Lions five-game losing streak.

SEARCY, Ark., – Harding was able to overcome a 10-point second-half deficit to force overtime, and eventually defeat the University of North Alabama men’s basketball team 103-96 Saturday evening at the Rhodes Field House on the HU campus.

CLEVELAND, Miss., – Despite a career-high 32 points from Quinn Beckwith, the University of North Alabama men’s basketball team was unable to get past homestanding Delta State Wednesday evening at Walter Sillers Coliseum on the DSU campus.

FLORENCE – Clayton State built a 14-point lead in the second half and held off a late North Alabama rally to claim an 80-74 victory over the Lions Monday evening at Flowers Hall. The win kept the eighth-ranked Lakers unbeaten on the season at 2-0, while UNA dropped its third straight decision to fall to 2-3 on the year.

FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla., – Barry’s Ryan Saunders drove the length of the floor and laid in the game-winning basket with two seconds remaining to give the Buccaneers a 71-69 victory over North Alabama Saturday evening at the NSU Thanksgiving Classic.

FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla., – After two free throws by Rhys Martin gave Nova Southeastern a 108-104 lead with just five seconds remaining, Thomas Morris could only watch as his buzzer-beating three-pointer made the final score 108-107, giving the University of North Alabama men’s basketball team its first loss of the season Friday evening.

FLORENCE – An almost six minute scoring drought to open the game doomed Southern Arkansas Tuesday as North Alabama raced to a 13-0 lead and held on for a 94-70 win over the Muleriders at Flowers Hall.

FLORENCE – The University of North Alabama men’s basketball team received 24 points and was picked to finish third in the Gulf South Conference East Division in the league’s pre-season poll.   Head coaches around the GSC awarded the Lions two second-place votes, two third-place and two fourth-place votes, while perennial power Montevallo was the runaway favorite to take home the division crown.

FLORENCE – The University of North Alabama men’s basketball team received 24 points and was picked to finish third in the Gulf South Conference East Division in the league’s pre-season poll.   Head coaches around the GSC awarded the Lions two second-place votes, two third-place and two fourth-place votes, while perennial power Montevallo was the runaway favorite to take home the division crown.