FLORENCE, Ala. (Nov. 14, 2025) – It feels like the first time… because it is.
The ETSU men's basketball team visits North Alabama on Saturday for the first-ever matchup between the Bucs and the Lions in men's hoops on Saturday. Tip is set for 3:00pm Eastern, 2:00pm Central at CB&S Bank Arena in Florence.
MATCHUP: ETSU (2-1) at North Alabama (2-1)
DATE: November 15, 2025, 3:00pm Eastern
VENUE: CB&S Bank Arena (Florence, AL)
TV: ESPN+
RADIO: None
LIVE STATS: StatBroadcast
ETSU bounced back in a big way on Wednesday, recovering from a road loss at Presbyterian with a 75-63 win over Northern Kentucky at Freedom Hall where the Bucs never trailed.
Cam Morris III (22) and
Brian Taylor II (20) both had big nights offensively as ETSU dominated points in the paint, 42-28. Taylor is the only Buccaneer with double-digit points in all three games this season and is 77th in Division I with a 64.3% field goal percentage. He also led the Bucs with a career-high nine rebounds on Wednesday. Morris is 13 of his last 18 field goals and has scored 39 points in the last two games for ETSU.
Blake Barkley has provided additional offense with 33 points through three games, including 11 on five-for-five shooting with six rebounds against the Norse.
In addition to the offensive output, ETSU is one of the stingiest teams in the country. The Bucs are 29th in the nation in scoring defense (60.3), 48th in field goal percentage defense (36.5%), 23rd in steals per game (11.7) and 20th in turnovers forced per game (18.67).
Jaylen Smith is 51st in the country with eight steals through three games.
The Lions are looking to build on a landmark season a year ago, when they won 24 games and went to the NIT for the first time in their brief Division I history. Like ETSU, UNA's starters do most of the scoring, led by Cornelius Williams' 19.5 points per game. Williams was the ASUN's leading rebounder a season ago and 21st in the nation, and he had 28 points and 16 boards in a win over Northwestern State on Tuesday. The Lions have been exceptionally difficult to beat at home, going 33-4 against nonconference opponents under Tony Pujol.
This is the third of five first-time opponents on ETSU's nonconference schedule, joining Converse, Presbyterian, Central Arkansas, and South Alabama.
For more information on ETSU men's basketball, go to ETSUBucs.com.
