FLORENCE, Ala. (Nov. 15, 2025) - The Bucs needed the whole second half to get out of a hole, but that made it all the sweeter when they got to the top.
ETSU erased an 18-point second half deficit to defeat North Alabama 78-74 in Florence on Saturday, becoming just the fifth nonconference opponent to beat UNA at home since 2018. Jaylen Smith scored 14 points, all in the second half, while Brian Taylor II, Cam Morris III, and Jordan McCullum also hit double figures for the Buccaneers (3-1).
After an early 12-0 run put the Lions (2-2) ahead and kept them there until halftime, UNA stretched their advantage to its maximum 37 seconds into the second half on a Dallas Howell three pointer that made the score 49-31 in favor of the home side. ETSU immediately answered with a 7-0 run that included five points from McCullum and held the Lions to four points over the following eight minutes to cut the deficit down to 10.
With 8:37 to go, Smith hit the first of a trio of threes in a four-minute span, and the Bucs were down six with 4:25 left when a Smith steal turned into a Maki Johnson three in transition to cut the deficit to 65-62.
After Taylor and Blake Barkley hit layups in quick succession to keep the Lions close, Smith assisted on three straight baskets: a Johnson three to trim the deficit back to three, a Morris layup that trimmed it to one, and a Taylor three to take ETSU's third lead of the game and first since 7-5 with 17:34 left in the first half. Smith then grabbed two steals with the second one leading to an electric Morris dunk that gave ETSU what they needed to ensure the win.
Smith's second half totaled 14 points, six assists, and three steals with four made threes in 15 minutes, and he hit two free throws in the final seconds to set the final score and end the game on a 12-2 ETSU run over the last 2:36.
As a team, ETSU shot just under 48% from the field and 36% from three with 10 made three pointers, the most made threes in a game since January 25 against Chattanooga. The Bucs won turnovers 14-7 and scored 21 points off those 14 UNA turnovers, collecting 12 steals in the process. They won points in the paint 36-28 and fast break points 16-7, while UNA won the glass 39-30 and second chance points 15-5.
The Bucs scored 36 bench points, their most in a game since March 8, 2024, when the Bucs scored 51 off the bench against VMI in the SoCon tournament. Johnson had nine points off the bench; Brayden Crump had seven, and Gabe Sisk had six to complement Smith's 14. Taylor led the Bucs with five rebounds, and Smith's six assists were supported by four more from Allen Strothers.
ETSU returns to action at Freedom Hall on Friday when they host Morehead State to open the ETSU MTE Presented by Abundant Christian Living Community. Tickets are available at ETSUTickets.com.
For more information on ETSU men's basketball, go to ETSUBucs.com.
