JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – The Jacksonville University men's basketball team (11-13, 4-5 ASUN) had a night to remember inside Swisher Gymnasium on Saturday opposite North Alabama (10-12, 5-4 ASUN). The Dolphins survived a furious second half comeback by the Lions and hit big shot after big shot down the stretch to come away with the 85-83 victory.

Destin Barnes' star shone brightest when the pressure mounted as he always seemed to find the ball in the big moment. It was his fallaway jumper from the wing with 50 seconds to play that put JU ahead by seven but the unsung hero during clutch time was DeAnthony McCallum (Hodges Mazda Player of the Game). The senior stepped to the line and knocked down three free throws in the closing moments and successfully executed an intentional miss that salted away the final second to secure victory for his team. McCallum scored 11 points, while going 9-10 from the free throw line, the lone miss being intentional.

Barnes closed out the night with a team-high 21 points, his third performance of 20 points or more this season, more than any other JU player. He continues to be unflappable at home, using this effort to raise his scoring average at Swisher to 15.7 points per game while shooting 44.2 percent from the floor.

We've gotten this deep into the story of this wild contest without even mentioning another monster double-double from David Bell, who scored 14 points and pulled down 16 boards. Most of that came in the second half as the senior had just six points and nine rebounds at the break. The effort marks the 11th double-double of the season for Bell, 14th of his career and is the fifth time this season he's pulled down 15 or more rebounds. He's now averaging 10.8 boards per game in ASUN play.

The only remaining Dolphin to score in double figures was Diante Wood who cashed in 12 points to go with six rebounds and a pair of assists. He was 4-8 from the floor and 4-6 from the free throw line to secure his fourth double-digit scoring line in league play. His offensive-rebound and lay-in at the end of a dominant first half for JU, gave his team a 16-point lead at the break.

The Dolphins shot 43.6 percent from the floor and canned six triples in that first half while holding UNA to just 34.6 percent shooting. Jacksonville led by as many as 18 after scoring first in the second half but that was when the fireworks came. North Alabama forced number of turnovers that flipped an 18-point Jacksonville advantage into a six-point one in just over four-minutes of game time. By the end of this one, UNA had outscored JU, 32-7, in points off turnovers.

Barnes knocked down a triple with 15:15 left to take a nine-point lead but North Alabama followed with a 10-0 run to take its first lead since 12:23 mark of the first half. The lead changed three times before UNA extended it to four, 63-59, with 8:51 to go. Trailing by three with 6:31 left, Bell converted inside through contact and knocked down the free throw to tie the game. JU never trailed again.

The Jacksonville lead grew to as many as seven following the gutsy shot by Barnes in front of his own bench but the Lions knocked down big shot after big shot over the final 50 seconds to keep this one interesting. The Dolphins responded by making clutch free throws to secure the victory.

Next up, Jacksonville will welcome Liberty to Swisher Gymnasium on Thursday (Feb. 6) for a 7 p.m. tip that is sure to bring an energized crowd. The Dolphins will be looking to upend the defending ASUN champions and preseason favorites as the battle for positioning in the ASUN tournament in March begins in earnest.