FLORENCE, Ala. – Jacksonville University men's basketball used a 20-3 run over the course of an eight-minute stretch in the second half to rally for a 56-50 win over North Alabama on Thursday night in Flowers Hall.
 
The Dolphins (14-7, 6-3) trailed by as many as eight points, but used a double-double from Kevion Nolan and strong free throw shooting by Bryce Workman to pick up a third consecutive win.
 
The night started well enough for JU, with the Dolphins scoring the first seven points of the night on a Mike Marsh hook shot and two buckets by Nolan. After North Alabama called a timeout, the Lions scored 10 of the next 12 points to take the lead. JU used free throws to get the lead back and build it back out to five, 19-14, when Workman hit a layup and a pair from the charity stripe.
 
The Jacksonville offense stalled out for the remaining 7:05 of the first half, and the Dolphins trailed 21-19 at the break.
 
North Alabama was able to get to the line with regularity to start the second half, making five early freebies. After the Dolphins got it back to two points, UNA made a free throw, forced a JU miss and quickly got down the floor for a layup, then got a three-pointer to take its largest lead of the night, 32-24.
 
The lead was still eight with 11:05 left, when Workman and Nolan took over on offense. Workman collected an offensive rebound and laid it in, followed by a Nolan driving layup and a pair of free throws on the next possession. Workman buried a free throw line jumper and Nolan made another tough layup to give JU its first lead of the second half.
 
Osayi Osifo made a layup with 7:15 to play and capped off a 12-0 run to put the Dolphins ahead for good.
 
Gyasi Powell hit a jumper and Workman made four straight free throws to push the lead to nine, largest of the evening for JU with 2:43 to pay.
 
UNA started making some shots to as close as four twice in the final 30 seconds, but free throws iced it for JU down the stretch.
 
UP NEXT
 
Jacksonville travels to Jacksonville State, who suffered its first conference loss on Thursday night. The Dolphins face the Gamecocks for the first time as ASUN foes on Saturday at 5 p.m.

COACH'S COMMENTS

 

NUMBERS YOU SHOULD KNOW
 

• The Dolphins won for the first time at Flowers Hall in five tries
• Kevion Nolan had 20 points, his fourth 20-point outing of the year, and 10 rebounds, a career-high, for his first career double-double
• Bryce Workman set season-highs for free throws made (11) and attempted (12)
• JU secured its second three-game conference winning streak of the year
• The defense held North Alabama to 26 percent shooting, the lowest percentage allowed this season
• For the third-straight game, the opponent was held under 60 points, the 14th time this season