UNA Basketball Night @ Lost Pizza w/Benjamin Ray 12/29/25

[0:00] It's time for UNA Basketball Night at Lost Pizza Company featuring Coach Candy Whittaker and Coach Tony Pujol. UNA Basketball Night is brought to you by Lost Pizza, Bank Independent, Burnley Spine and Sport, Renaissance Eye Care, The Carriage Wine and Market, Alabama Health Guidance, and Singing River Brewery. Now live from Lost Pizza Company in historic downtown Florence, here's the voice of the UNA Lions, Benjamin Ray. Hello and welcome to Lost Pizza Shoals in historic downtown Florence for the first episode of UNA Basketball Night. I'm Benjamin Ray alongside Mike Ezekiel.

One final go here in 2025 and as we turn the calendar to 2026, Mike, it is Atlantic Sun basketball play for both the UNA basketball programs. It feels like just yesterday we were here at Lost Pizza kicking off football season. Now here we are tipping off conference play for basketball. Where has time gone? Yeah, time goes by quick, but first of all, happy holiday. Good to have you back, Ben. Good to be back here at Lost Pizza. And last year, the birth of this idea of doing UNA basketball night at Lost Pizza kind of came about.

And how successful was it last year? And to see the crowd that's here right now, I mean, it's piling in. There's not enough tables, I don't think, for everybody. So that's a great sign. And it's good to be back talking about conference basketball that's coming up. Non-conference play is kind of in the books. And you hear people kind of refer to that as the preseason, which is kind of weird because it does count towards your overall record. But now you're into conference games. You've got 18 on the schedule for the women and for the men.

Really exciting times. And I'm glad to be back with you, partner, here as we roll into January 2026. Tonight we're going to hear from both head coaches. Candy Whitaker is in the house with her entire team. India Howard and Alyssa Clutter are going to swing by as well. Tony Pujol will join us shortly as well. Dallas Howell, the sixth-year veteran, is back. Cannon Jefferson. It's kind of a veterans' night here as we tip off UNA basketball night from Lost Pizza Shoals. And, Mike, one thing is certainly the excitement for UNA basketball is real.

Both teams have gone and combined 7-2 at home inside of the bank. The women open up conference play on the road with a Florida swing against Florida Gulf Coast and Stetson. The men, they've got the opposite. They've got those programs coming up north with Stetson on Thursday, a noon o'clock tip. And then on Saturday it will be Florida Gulf Coast, Dunk City coming to the bank. And what a great way to start off conference play with home games inside the bank. Yeah, and a fun fact, I don't think that there's ever been a home game on New Year's Day at CB&S Bank Arena in Flowers Hall.

So that's really exciting that we get to ring in the new year for the first time at home on the men's side. And while that game's going on, I'm going to have a monitor up watching the women because they're playing at 1 o'clock down at Florida Gulf Coast. So excited about that. Excited for both of these teams to kick off their season. A great test right away for the women's team. Can't wait to talk to Coach Whitaker about that. And for the men as well, a big weekend with Stetson coming to town, a well-coached team.

And then FGCU that Saturday. So real exciting basketball on the way. The last time I remember kind of New Year's Eve basketball, it was myself, you, and Will Corey making a trek from Valdosta, Georgia. Or excuse me, from, no, it was Valdosta, Georgia to Pensacola, Florida on New Year's Eve. Wow. Yeah, we had a good stop looking for some food. But hey, let's take a timeout when we come back. Candy Whitaker will join us next and we'll take you inside the UNA Women's Basketball Program. We're off and running.

It's UNA Basketball Night for Lost Pizza Shoals on 93.9 The Score. Looking for the perfect Christmas gift? You just found it at Lost Pizza. Located at the corner of Seminary and East Mobile Street in historic downtown Florence. Lost Pizza is serving up a holiday deal worth celebrating. Buy $25 worth of Lost Pizza gift cards and you'll get a $5 gift card for yourself. Because Santa says you deserve one too. This Christmas gift pizza. And keep a little bit for you. Lost Pizza, downtown Florence. Burnley Spine and Sport Chiropractic is now offering soft wave therapy.

Effective for osteoarthritis, plantar fasciitis, knee pain, foot ulcers, shoulder pain, and more. We also offer the only Theralight 360 red light therapy beds in the Shoals area. Helping with sleep, energy, recovery, pain, and inflammation. Therapies coupled with dry kneeling can help with sugar point and muscular pain. In addition, we also offer genetic testing, deep tissue laser, adjustments, and more. Burnley Spine and Sport Chiropractic is now open Saturdays to better serve our patients. Please visit us at burnleychiro.com. Hi, this is Ike Fowler with Alabama Health Guidance.

Whether you are looking for a Medicare health plan or you are under 65 and exploring individual health care options, Alabama Health Guidance can help you find the plan that fits your needs. Our local agents make it simple. So stop by our office at 885 Florence Boulevard or give us a call at 256-648-5710. Again, that's 256-648-5710. Have you ever seen those halftime scholarships where you have to nail a 40-yard field goal? Yeah, this isn't that. I didn't have to write a long essay or audition or make a half-court shot.

[5:21] I just had to open a bank independent account, use my debit card, sign up for online banking, and have a positive balance. That's it. A 20% scholarship to UNA. When bank independent invests in students like me, they're investing in all of us and the future of our community. Bank independent. We're invested in your future. Member FDIC. Hey guys, how long have you been wearing those out-of-date, scratched-up glasses? This is Dr. Hamp Moore with Renaissance Eye Care. Go ahead and do as the woman in your life has been asking and schedule an eye exam.

You can go to renaissanceeyecare.com or call 767-5000 to see either Dr. Kathy Werner, Dr. Lisa Campbell, or myself. Everyone knows it's time to evaluate the health of your eyes and get a new pair of glasses. We can make sure you won't miss any of the action this fall. And roar lines. Join us at Singing River Brewery, your local hub for great beer and community fun. Ready to serve delicious drinks and host amazing events? Try our Golden Manor Leo's Roar, and 50% goes to UNA Athletics. Support your local business and college community while enjoying a fantastic atmosphere.

Don't miss out on the good times. Come sip, socialize, and savor the taste of Singing River Brewery. Got wine? Offering 10% off six or more bottles of mix-and-match wine and an unmatched selection of nearly 1,000 different wines to suit any budget, the Carriage Wine & Market is your one-stop wine and craft beer destination in the heart of downtown Florence. In the mood to relax and wind down? Indulge in our bar service featuring fine wines, wine cocktails, and craft beers, all paired perfectly with house-made small bites and charcuterie, and served with a smile in our cozy living room-style atmosphere.

Come spend a little time with us and uncork your wine journey at the Carriage Wine & Market, located at 121 East Mobile Street on Mobile Plaza across from the Shoals Theater. Cheers! Here we go. We're off and running at Lost Pizza Shoals in downtown Florence. This is UNA Basketball, and I'm up in Benjamin Ray alongside Mike Ezekiel. And we've got head coach Candy Whitaker here for the UNA women's basketball team. She's got her entire program in the house tonight. They're gearing up for Atlantic Sunplay to open up on Thursday down in Florida.

But, Coach, year two, how are you doing? Did you guys have a good Christmas break? We had a great Christmas break. We stayed in Florence. Our family did. We had a great time. And fortunate, our whole team got five days off, which is a really great number for a Division I basketball team. So I thought we all had a chance to reset, be around family, and now we're back at it. Year two. What's been the feeling for you compared to year number one? Well, just, you know, a little bit more knowledge, right, about the league, about, you know, recruiting, all the things that I think we can sell at North Alabama.

So the longer you're at a place, right, the more you understand it and can really share how great it is. But definitely more familiar with the league. That first year, even though I had watched film and prepared, I think seeing it up close and personal is just better and so definitely more knowledgeable. Coach, I always go back to that first press conference back in March. You talked about the identity of the team and the teams you've coached. They've been that West Texas grit that you've talked about.

And I love seeing that. And as you've kind of been here a second year now, you've got this team, and you're trying to figure out that identity of this team. What have you seen in conference play, or sorry, non-conference play heading in that you would, I guess, characterize this team and their identity? Well, you know, defense has to be a part of our identity. We're certainly still working on that, and, you know, and we're a work in progress for sure. But I think for us to win games, we've got to have a mentality that we're going to guard people.

We're going to get stops. We're going to create some offense with our defense. We've been better there. I think last year we averaged four takeaways. This year we're around eight. So, you know, we've improved, but we've got to continue to make that a big part of us. We want to share the basketball and play a great team-style offensive set with a lot of concepts that we're really trying to teach kids how to play basketball and just not run plays. Year one is always such a whirlwind.

You've got to come in. You've got to evaluate. You've got to recruit. You've got to hire. Year two, how did things slow down as you kind of moved into that sophomore campaign? Well, recruiting's always there. I always feel like we're signing a lot of kids every year. You know, that's the name of the game these days. You just kind of try to continue to bring talent in and put it to work and had to hire some new staff. So in a lot of ways it's the same.

But, again, just more familiar with Florence, with North Alabama, with the league, with our returners. You know, once you've coached someone longer than a couple months, right, you know so much more about what they're capable of. And I think all of our returners have done a fantastic job of continuing to grow themselves. It's been really good to see some of the pieces that you've brought in and how they've really fit. You really just see how it all works out with Sophia and how she's developed. But you have a good core group of two that we're going to talk to tonight, India, Alyssa.

[10:35] What was it like having them come back again and kind of having them part of the program already and helping get you adjusted as well? Well, I love both of them dearly. I mean, they are just fantastic young women. Both of them were voted captains by our team, hands down. Everyone wanted them captains. And it speaks to their leadership on and off the floor. They're both big-time players for us. But it's also all the other things they do. You know, I think Alyssa's really taken on kind of a mother role where she's really looking after them outside of basketball.

And India's just a ball of energy and always talking and brings her personality to the court and off. You know, they just do a great job of taking care of their teammates, being great teammates, understanding our expectations and how we want to practice every day and the motor that you have to bring. And so, you know, really appreciate both of them and glad I've been able to coach them for two years. From the veterans to a couple of breakouts. And I think it starts with Sofia Cipollotti.

As a freshman from Italy, we didn't see her a lot last year, right? And then she comes in and all of a sudden, Coach, she's your leading scorer. She's your leading rebounder. I mean, what can you say about her breakout sophomore? The super sophomore sensation, as we've been calling her in the office. I love that. Sofia, super sophomore sensation. I'm sure she's here and loving all the S's attached to her name. But, you know, I'm telling you, this is my 23rd year in collegiate coaching. And I've never had a player, I've said this a lot publicly, but I've never had a player make the turn as quickly as Sofia has from year one to year two.

And I give her the credit. I mean, she is a worker. She is in the gym. She embraced hard. Last year was hard for her in every way. And she just wanted, she wants to play. She wants to play professionally. She loves the game. She wanted to get better. We had a fantastic offseason with her where she got better right in front of our eyes every single day. And we made it really hard on her because I thought she needed to get tougher. And she did.

And then she went home and played with the international team and I thought continued to get better. Their feedback to us was just how proud they were of the jump she made under our leadership. But Sofia is a worker. That doesn't happen just because you're around great players, just because you're around coaches that are working with you. That happens when players go to work. She earned everything she's getting and I couldn't be more proud of her. Sofia's got an incredible story, by the way, how she got to UNA, what she's done overseas in Italy and her impact in international basketball.

And to translate it here and to make that jump as a sophomore has been incredible. Coach, I want to talk about another one that's made a jump as a sophomore as well. Let's talk about Vinlander a little bit. 21 points in that Stanford game. Big impact there. Really saw her break out. And she's had an incredible last few games as well. She has. You know, Vinland's been someone who's battled injury a lot of her career. She tore her knee in high school. She tore her knee in our first practice last year.

So she's had to battle a lot of adversity and come back from that. But what a skilled post player. I mean, can just do a lot of things with the ball in her hands. Can shoot it. Can pass it. Makes decisions. Understands the game at a high level. And has stayed the course. There's been times she hasn't gotten to play as much. And she's just stayed the course. And now she's kind of found her stride. And we're seeing what we saw last year when she first got here.

It's just always a transition when you're coming off of an injury. It just takes a period of time. But Vinland's going to be really good for us. And, you know, I think she's just scratched the surface. It's kind of some international flair of the international lions this year, right? You've got Coach Sandra Absinthe. Coach A, she's in the house as well. But she spent some time coaching with the Sweden national team over the break. You talked about Sofia and her work in Italy. You've got Greta Ramon, another young freshman as well from Italy.

And what about these Europeans and kind of the takeover they've had? Well, you know, two things. I think Europeans are very skilled typically. I mean, just across the board, Europe spends a lot of time training. Americans spend a lot of time playing the game, you know, to be honest, at the grassroots level. So a lot of practice, a lot of skill work in Europe that I really enjoy how they play the game and see the game. I think coming over is always a transition to guarding, the athleticism, the speed, sometimes, you know, to get used to the American way of playing.

But they've been good fits for us. And another piece I kind of like is they don't really know if it's, you know, if they're playing Clemson or, you know, some other school, right? It doesn't really matter to them. So you kind of see them hook it up and just want to compete and play. But we're excited to have them. Our other group, our Americans have welcomed them and definitely, you know, taken them under their wing and helped them find their way around Florence. Let's talk about a couple more since we're back in America, I guess, coming back to this side.

[15:40] Ben, you've talked about this a lot with the Atlantic Sun Conference. It seems like the teams in the men and women's side that both succeed seem to be the ones that have those upperclassmen, that veteran. We need to talk about Allie and Buki a little bit. A couple of upperclassmen that you brought in. I think Buki is a graduate student, Allie a senior, and their experience and what they've done so far this season. Yeah, I mean, I think that's the name of the game these days is to try to stay as old as you can, right, with the portal and transfers.

And both of them have been huge for us. You know, I think Allie has been someone who just competes her tail off every night out. She's making plays on the defensive end. She's making plays on the offensive end. She's setting up others. She's hitting shots. She's just fearless in so many ways and a true competitor. And I think maximizes herself. You know, I think Allie's getting every ounce. We're getting every ounce out of Allie, I think, every single night. Buki is someone who is in her fifth year and provides a ton of experience.

Her length at the guard position, her athleticism, her ability to defend has been tremendous for us. She's a ton of fun to watch in the open floor. She leads us in assists. You know, she's just done a fantastic job. She unfortunately got hurt a couple games ago, but she'll be battling back, and hopefully we'll see her at some point in the near future. Coach, the first of many conversations we'll have with you this year here at Lost Pizza for UNA Basketball Night on the road Thursday, Florida Gulf Coast, 1 p.m. Central, Saturday, Stetson.

It's always tough when you have to go on the road in conference play, but opening up in Florida, what's kind of the outlook this weekend? Well, we're excited. You know, I think this league's wide open. I think it's probably an interesting year for every coach. So many teams lost, a lot of returners that really carried them last year. I think probably Central Arkansas has the most as far as who they return, maybe EKU. But everyone else had to go recruit, go to the portal, sign junior college kids late.

So it's a little bit of a guessing game what everyone has. Everyone's kind of been right there in non-conference play. So I'm definitely excited to get going. This is what we prepare for. You know, we learned a lot about ourselves in non-conference play. You know, had some great wins, had some disappointing losses, but learned a lot. And now it's go time. Yeah. And right off the bat, you start with FGCU, a team that obviously is the favorite. And, you know, they've had a lot of success.

And maybe they're trying to prove something to themselves right now as well. And to start right off the bat going down there, you know, what do you got to do to mentally prepare for that? Yeah, I mean, I think, well, we're just preparing, like we do every week to win, you know, regardless of who we're going up against. I think Florida Gulf Coast has had a lot of changes. And so, like any program that has a lot of changes, they're figuring themselves out as well. So I think it's about showing up and seeing who wants to go win that game more than the other team and who's willing to do the little things and who's tougher by the end of the night.

I think a lot of these games are going to be evenly matched as far as skill, size, and talent. Coach, as always, we appreciate it. I know it's a big night for you all. You've got your entire team here eating. You've got the Christmas party after this with the team. Can you tell us, take us inside what's going on at the Christmas party after this? Well, I have a great staff that does a lot of fun things. And I will tell you who else on our team.

India Howard always is a good time. She has a lot of ideas. She's like, Coach, can we do this? Can we do this? How about some s'mores? Get the fire going. So we'll have a good time. You know, they're going to do a little Secret Santa. And we're always so slammed, I feel like, leading up to Christmas. So we sometimes have this better downtime right after Christmas to do some team stuff. But the team's a lot of fun. They've all got great personalities. And we have a good time with them.

Well, Coach, we appreciate it as always. And we'll do this again next week. Sounds great. Thank you all. North Alabama head coach, Candy Witter. Let's take a time out. We're going to talk to India Howard next. She's behind the camera and ready. We'll find out what's going on at the Christmas party back when we get back here at Lost Pizza Shoals for U&A Basketball Night. Looking for the perfect Christmas gift? You just found it at Lost Pizza. Located at the corner of Seminary and East Mobile Street in historic downtown Florence.

Lost Pizza is serving up a holiday deal worth celebrating. Buy $25 worth of Lost Pizza gift cards. And you'll get a $5 gift card for yourself. Because Santa says you deserve one too. This Christmas gift pizza. And keep a little bit for you. Lost Pizza, downtown Florence. Burnley Spine and Sport Chiropractic is now offering soft wave therapy. Effective for osteoarthritis, plantar fasciitis, knee pain, foot ulcers, shoulder pain, and more. We also offer the only Theralight 360 red light therapy beds in the Shoals area. Helping with sleep, energy, recovery, pain, and inflammation.

[20:40] Therapies coupled with dry kneeling can help with sugar point and muscular pain. In addition, we also offer genetic testing, deep tissue laser, adjustments, and more. Burnley Spine and Sport Chiropractic is now open Saturdays to better serve our patients. Please visit us at burnleychiro.com. Hi, this is Ike Fowler with Alabama Health Guidance. Whether you are looking for a Medicare health plan or you are under 65 and exploring individual health care options, Alabama Health Guidance can help you find the plan that fits your needs. Our local agents make it simple, so stop by our office at 885 Florence Boulevard or give us a call at 256-648-5710.

Again, that's 256-648-5710. Have you ever seen those halftime scholarships where you have to nail a 40-yard field goal? Yeah, this isn't that. I didn't have to write a long essay or audition or make a half-court shot. I just had to open a bank independent account, use my debit card, sign up for online banking, and have a positive balance. That's it. A 20% scholarship to UNA. When bank independent invests in students like me, they're investing in all of us and the future of our community. Bank independent.

We're invested in your future. Member FDIC. Hey guys, how long have you been wearing those out-of-date, scratched-up glasses? This is Dr. Hampton Moore with Renaissance Eye Care. Go ahead and do as the woman in your life has been asking and schedule an eye exam. You can go to renaissanceeyecare.com or call 767-5000 to see either Dr. Kathy Warner, Dr. Lisa Campbell, or myself. Everyone knows it's time to evaluate the health of your eyes and get a new pair of glasses. We can make sure you won't miss any of the action this fall and roar lines.

Join us at Singing River Brewery, your local hub for great beer and community fun. Ready to serve delicious drinks and host amazing events? Try our Golden Mainer Leo's Roar, and 50% goes to UNA Athletics. Support your local business and college community while enjoying a fantastic atmosphere. Don't miss out on the good times. Come sip, socialize, and savor the taste of Singing River Brewery. Got wine? Offering 10% off six or more bottles of mix-and-match wine and an unmatched selection of nearly 1,000 different wines to suit any budget, the Carriage Wine & Market is your one-stop wine and craft beer destination in the heart of downtown Florence.

In the mood to relax and wind down? Indulge in our bar service featuring fine wines, wine cocktails, and craft beers, all paired perfectly with house-made small bites and charcuterie, and served with a smile in our cozy living room-style atmosphere. Come spend a little time with us and uncork your wine journey at the Carriage Wine & Market, located at 121 East Mobile Street on Mobile Plaza across from the Shoals Theater. Cheers! We got the life of the party up next. India Howard is with us. Her third season at North Alabama from Texas, North Carolina, all over.

We're excited to have India back. And India, for you, Christmas break, Christmas party. Coach said you're kind of the ringleader. So give us some insight. What's going on here at the Christmas party tonight? I'm confident we'll have a lot of games and we'll compete. We find a way to always compete. Spoons is a big one that we play. It has us flipping the table over trying to get the last one and stuff. Probably some desserts. I asked for s'mores earlier so we could sit around the campfire, have a good time.

I think we'll be doing that. And the gift exchange, we've all been getting ready for that, preparing. So that was good. A little secret Santa. Your third season, what has stood out about this team? There's a lot of talent this year. Individually, everyone came with a lot. And it was like putting it together to all gel well. A lot of personality, a lot of fun. I don't know, we just had a lot of fun. Good laughs. Yeah, a lot of connection in this team. And it's so easy to see.

You're two under Coach Whitaker and you've been here. This is your third year, I believe, right? Fourth? Yeah, third or fourth. It feels like it's been a while. But to see you grow and develop into your role at North Alabama, what's it been like being in Florence? Obviously, you're from Texas. So coming here to Florence and adjusting to this and being a part of this program, what has it meant to you over the three years? I've loved the town, loved the area. So I'm from big cities, Dallas, Texas, Charlotte, North Carolina.

And that's what drew me here was that it was a nice small town, a lot of local shops, family-owned businesses. And I really enjoy the people in this town. The support we get is a lot. Over the three years, I've gotten more comfortable in opening up more. And I find myself walking around downtown, just smiling, talking to people, engaging with the community is a lot of fun. And just my role in this team has changed over the years as well. So growing into that has been nice.

Year three, new team this season. For you, though, engineering major, right? Yes, sir. What has been your hardest class this semester? Give us some insight into just how challenging your workload is. My hardest class this semester is probably electrical circuits and devices. ET 360, because we were doing a lot of calculus-based things with derivatives and integrations. But the numbers we were working with were all imaginary. And so we had to convert them into an imaginary realm that doesn't exist, do more calculus to them, and then bring them back to real life.

[26:16] And so that concept was difficult for a lot of people, a lot of tutoring to get into afterwards. Pulled out with all A's this semester and finished strong. So it's definitely doable, but it was challenging. It was new to wrap my mind around all these imaginary phasers and equations we had to work with. Mike and I work with a lot of imaginary numbers, too. No doubt about that. It's been impressive to see what you've done in your academic career. You were academic all-district last year. And to hear you talk, it's so obvious as to why.

I just got to know, with this engineering degree, is there any way you ever get to apply that into basketball? Sometimes problem-solving. As a team captain, a lot of my teammates come up to me with problems and issues. But that's something more logic-based than engineering. Calculations with numbers. I'm also a math minor, so any time coach has questions about, all right, India, what score do we need to have? Or percentage-wise, he's usually asking me numbers there. So I like that a lot. And what's next for you when you graduate next December, right?

So what do you want to do with this engineering degree? So I'm doing electro-mechanical, so electric side and mechanic side. I would like definitely an internship this upcoming summer, looking for job opportunities. Kind of flexible, though. Like anything with calculations, drawing, AutoCAD designs, mechanical parts, I love it all. So, I mean, NASA's right around the corner in Huntsville, so that's not far from here. I've even looked, maybe even the Air Force, possibly doing some engineering up there. But I just had an internship at Forsyth and Long this past summer, which was nice just to get some experience and things.

And I'm just looking currently to get more and more experience in different areas. Because that had a lot of chemical base, too. So it's just the more you can learn and soak up, you can apply it almost everywhere. I want to circle back a little bit to the conflict resolution, the problem-solving that you were kind of talking about and figuring out things. To see Coach Whitaker up here, I know you were standing behind the camera. And to hear her say, hands down, our two captains were voted India Howard, Alyssa Clutter.

What does it mean to you to know that you have that vote of confidence, not only from your head coach, but from the team as well? It feels good. I feel ready for that role this year. We've talked about it a lot, too, that coach doesn't just kind of give out captains. I was like, okay, who's the seniors? All right, you guys will be our captains. Last year, you know, in the previous years, we haven't always had distinguished captains. But the role to fill also comes with the burden of a lot more work that we take on than our teammates at times.

And figuring stuff out or having extra meetings or conflicts and conversations. But I love leading my team. I love helping them out, guiding them, especially our freshmen that come in or some of our international players. Just in being that this is both me and Melissa's second year with Coach Whitaker, we understand the system pretty well. So I think that's also a big change of growth that we had from last year is last year everyone was learning it new. Now we have a lot of leadership, so everyone's learning a lot quicker because we're teaching each other.

We're coming back after hours and doing walkthroughs and stuff. So it's just been really great to do that. India, let's wrap up with this before we head to our break right here. You guys are opening up on the road, Florida, Florida, Gulf Coast, Stetson. But next week, you're at home, Eastern Kentucky, Bellarmine. How excited are you to get back in the bank playing Atlantic Sun games in front of the hometown crowd? Oh, I'm so excited. I can't wait for our crowd to come out. The timing of it I love.

We just had a stretch of away games, but they came right after finals, which I was like, perfect, thank you. Because studying on the road or catching up, doing projects and papers is a lot of work mentally and physically on you. But when you get to just focus on school, school's out and you hit the road, then it's fine. And then now, break's ending, so people are coming back in town. They're done traveling with their families, so hopefully we can pack the bank and everyone can come support.

So I'm so excited for it. I know they will. We appreciate you chatting with us, India. Have fun at the Christmas party. Hope you enjoy some s'mores and best of luck this year. I know we'll talk to you again. Thank you so much. That's India Howard. Coming up next, Alyssa Clutter stops by to talk here at Lost Pizza Shoals. This is UNA Basketball Night on 93.9 The Score. Looking for the perfect Christmas gift you just found at Lost Pizza? Located at the corner of Seminary and East Mobile Street in historic downtown Florence, Lost Pizza is serving up a holiday deal worth celebrating.

Buy $25 worth of Lost Pizza gift cards and you'll get a $5 gift card for yourself. Because Santa says you deserve one too. This Christmas, give pizza and keep a little bit for you. Lost Pizza, downtown Florence. Burnley Spine and Sport Chiropractic is now offering soft wave therapy effective for osteoarthritis, plantar fasciitis, knee pain, foot ulcers, shoulder pain and more. We also offer the only Theralight 360 red light therapy beds in the Shoals area, helping with sleep, energy, recovery, pain and inflammation. Therapies coupled with dry kneeling can help with sugar point and muscular pain.

[31:20] In addition, we also offer genetic testing, deep tissue laser, adjustments and more. Burnley Spine and Sport Chiropractic is now open Saturdays to better serve our patients. Please visit us at burnleychiro.com. Hi, this is Ike Fowler with Alabama Health Guidance. Whether you are looking for a Medicare health plan or you are under 65 and exploring individual health care options, Alabama Health Guidance can help you find the plan that fits your needs. Our local agents make it simple, so stop by our office at 885 Florence Boulevard or give us a call at 256-648-5710.

Again, that's 256-648-5710. Have you ever seen those halftime scholarships where you have to nail a 40-yard field goal? Yeah, this isn't that. I didn't have to write a long essay or audition or make a half-court shot. I just had to open a bank independent account, use my debit card, sign up for online banking and have a positive balance. That's it. A 20% scholarship to UNA. When bank independent invests in students like me, they're investing in all of us and the future of our community. Bank independent.

We're invested in your future. Member FDIC. Hey guys, how long have you been wearing those out-of-date scratched-up glasses? This is Dr. Hamp Moore with Renaissance Eye Care. Go ahead and do as the woman in your life has been asking and schedule an eye exam. You can go to renaissanceeyecare.com or call 767-5000 to see either Dr. Kathy Werner, Dr. Lisa Campbell, or myself. Everyone knows it's time to evaluate the health of your eyes and get a new pair of glasses. We can make sure you won't miss any of the action this fall.

And roar lines. Join us at Singing River Brewery, your local hub for great beer and community fun. Ready to serve delicious drinks and host amazing events? Try our Golden Mainer Leo's Roar. And 50% goes to UNA Athletics. Support your local business and college community while enjoying a fantastic atmosphere. Don't miss out on the good times. Come sip, socialize, and savor the taste of Singing River Brewery. Got wine? Offering 10% off six or more bottles of mix-and-match wine and an unmatched selection of nearly 1,000 different wines to suit any budget, the Carriage Wine & Market is your one-stop wine and craft beer destination in the heart of downtown Florence.

In the mood to relax and wind down? Indulge in our bar service featuring fine wines, wine cocktails, and craft beers, all paired perfectly with house-made small bites and charcuterie, and served with a smile in our cozy living room-style atmosphere. Come spend a little time with us and uncork your wine journey at the Carriage Wine & Market, located at 121 East Mobile Street on Mobile Plaza across from the Shoals Theater. Cheers! Valley Broadcasting Corporation, WITK-FM, Rogersville, Athens, Decatur, the Shoals. Sports Radio 93.9, The Score. She's back for year number four from Washington, Pennsylvania.

She's a veteran now. Alyssa Clutter is in the house. Alyssa, Christmas break. I know you got to go home to Pennsylvania. How's the holidays been for you? It's been really good. Really excited to see my family and my friends when I went home. So that was really nice. All right, now you're back. You're gearing up for your fourth run through the Atlantic Sun. But for you, last year was a tough ending, right? You had the knee injury, cut your junior year short. What has this rehab been like getting back to the floor?

It's definitely been difficult, just the mental aspect, getting your confidence back. Having stability and confidence in my knee has definitely been a challenge, but I've had a lot of people supporting me along the way. A lot of strength, rehab, everything I need right in front of me. So I'm really thankful for that. What have you learned the most about yourself over this four-year period, not only on the floor, but just personally as you've developed in college here at UNA? I think, honestly, like the biggest key for me has been confidence.

And even leading into this injury and after, that has been the biggest part of my game that I've been still developing. And that's been changing my game all throughout my college career. Sometimes when players get injured and they take a step back, they sit on the bench, they kind of see the game in a different way, right? What did you learn throughout that process last year as you kind of had to close the game out as almost a year, rather, as another coach? Yeah, honestly, I could kind of see everything from the coach's perspective.

I see why they get so mad at us sometimes because it looks so easy from when you're on the bench. No, but, yeah, it definitely was a different perspective, seeing a lot of options on the floor that aren't necessarily my position, and strengths and advantages from different players, too. Like, I really wanted to help out my team as much as I could when I was on the bench, and you can just see the game differently when you're viewing it from a different perspective. And now you've kind of viewed this season from a different perspective than others because this is your senior year, and we asked this to India a minute ago, and Coach Whitaker was up here and talking about how kind of that vote of confidence, like hands down, our captains, Alyssa Clutter, India Howard.

[36:28] What's it like not only having that vote of confidence from her, but also from your teammates? I mean, I love it. I love my team. I will give everything to them. I love the people I'm surrounded by. I'm so thankful for all of them, and them instilling confidence in me helps me bring everything I can to the table. Year four, every team is unique. What has stood out to you about this group this season? Well, we do have a lot of veterans on our team. I think that just boosts our IQ on the floor.

Like, we can see things. We all have different opinions and different, like, thoughts throughout the game, helping each other out. Like, see this look, make different reads and things like that. Like, our team IQ is definitely high. Yeah, and not only the veterans that were brought in, thinking of Ali and Buki, but other players like Sophia that started here as a freshman and have really taken a big jump as a sophomore. What's it like to see the young players come along as well and to really strengthen this group?

I mean, I love it. I've been here for so long. I love seeing people transform, get better. She's always in the gym. She always wants to get better. She's coachable. She's willing to learn. And, like, she has a lot of potential in her years to grow, too. Now, Coach Whitaker was on earlier, and she said you've kind of adopted the mother role of this team. What does that look like? And when you hear that, what's your feeling to that? Yeah, so that mother role has been passed down from Sarah Walgamuth, if you recall.

So it definitely is a lot sometimes, just keeping everyone organized, making sure we're on the same page, making sure we're everywhere we need to be, just keeping us in check, like, on and off the floor, emotionally, like, just being there for my teammates in any way that I can, really. We talked about India having that life of the party Christmas role. And if you're the mother, what is your role at the Christmas party tonight? Honestly, it's like India's bringing the party. I'm making sure we have the party.

So, yeah. From Washington, Pennsylvania, India kind of mentioned the Florence small-town feel kind of drew her here. What's been your favorite thing about Florence for four years now? I love, like, the family aspect of the town. I love the small-town feeling. I love the people who come to our games. It's just, like, I've gotten really close with, like, some of my people that come to our games every day. I love it. I love the support. It's just a family feel all around. Now, we've got a lot of basketball left to play, so I don't want to jump ahead too much, but plans for after college.

Kind of, you know, what's your graduation date? What are you majoring in, and what's your plans as far as a career? So, my major is biology, and I plan to go to physician assistant school after. So, what that looks like for me is either applying to schools that are in Charleston, South Carolina, which is a big plan of mine, or going back home for a little bit, same thing, working and applying for schools. So, not done with school quite yet. Boy, you, India, I think Emma Kate Tittle's also a biology major.

What are road trips like for you guys? Are there the books just out like crazy? Yeah, it's definitely a challenge to have such a demanding major, and all of our team is very high IQ, as I said, like on and off the floor. We work really hard in the classroom, and when we travel, we are with each other. I mean, we are studying together. We're in the library together. We're just really focused on our academics as well. Last question for me, Alyssa, as we kind of look ahead to conference play, we're back on the court, starting with a big test in FGCU.

You're on the road. Actually, kind of a little break here, but six straight road games, then you finally get to come back home here in about a week. But what's kind of the goals as we go into this week and start this conference playoff, hopefully on the right foot? I mean, two road wins, obviously. I mean, as Coach Whitaker said earlier, our league is wide open. There's been so many changes in every team, and I've watched these teams develop for years, and this league, there is a great opportunity within here.

So, I'm really excited to get on the road, get out, see our competition, get a feel for the teams we're going to play, and just get out there and get us a road win. Alyssa, we're excited. One last run for you this season. Best of luck, and thanks for chatting with us. I'm sure we'll have you on again this year. Thank you. That's Alyssa Clutter. UNA women on the road. Florida Gulf Coast on Thursday, Saturday against Stetson. Next week, they'll be home inside the bank. Let's take a timeout.

When we come back, Tony Pujol makes his first appearance and last appearance of 2025 here on UNA Basketball Night from Lost Pizza Shoals on 93.9 The Score. Looking for the perfect Christmas gift? You just found it at Lost Pizza. Located at the corner of Seminary and East Mobile Street in historic downtown Florence. Lost Pizza is serving up a holiday deal worth celebrating. Buy $25 worth of Lost Pizza gift cards, and you'll get a $5 gift card for yourself. Because Santa says you deserve one, too. This Christmas, give pizza. And keep a little bit for you.

[41:35] Lost Pizza, downtown Florence. Burnley Spine and Sport Chiropractic is now offering soft wave therapy, effective for osteoarthritis, plantar fasciitis, knee pain, foot ulcers, shoulder pain, and more. We also offer the only Theralight 360 red light therapy beds in the Shoals area, helping with sleep, energy, recovery, pain, and inflammation. Therapies coupled with dry needling can help with sugar point and muscular pain. In addition, we also offer genetic testing, deep tissue laser, adjustments, and more. Burnley Spine and Sport Chiropractic is now open Saturdays to better serve our patients.

Please visit us at burnleycowrow.com. Hi, this is Ike Fowler with Alabama Health Guidance. Whether you are looking for a Medicare health plan or you are under 65 and exploring individual health care options, Alabama Health Guidance can help you find the plan that fits your needs. Our local agents make it simple, so stop by our office at 885 Florence Boulevard or give us a call at 256-648-5710. Again, that's 256-648-5710. Have you ever seen those halftime scholarships where you have to nail a 40-yard field goal? Yeah, this isn't that.

I didn't have to write a long essay or audition or make a half-court shot. I just had to open a bank independent account, use my debit card, sign up for online banking, and have a positive balance. That's it, a 20% scholarship to UNA. When bank independent invests in students like me, they're investing in all of us and the future of our community. Bank independent, we're invested in your future. Member FDIC. Hey guys, how long have you been wearing those out-of-date scratched-up glasses? This is Dr. Ham Moore with Renaissance Eye Care.

Go ahead and do as the woman in your life has been asking and schedule an eye exam. You can go to renaissanceeyecare.com or call 767-5000 to see either Dr. Kathy Werner, Dr. Lisa Campbell, or myself. Everyone knows it's time to evaluate the health of your eyes and get a new pair of glasses. We can make sure you won't miss any of the action this fall. Join us at Singing River Brewery, your local hub for great beer and community fun. Ready to serve delicious drinks and host amazing events?

Try our Golden Mainer Leo's Roar, and 50% goes to UNA Athletics. Support your local business and college community while enjoying a fantastic atmosphere. Don't miss out on the good times. Come sip, socialize, and savor the taste of Singing River Brewery. Got wine? Offering 10% off six or more bottles of mix-and-match wine and an unmatched selection of nearly 1,000 different wines to suit any budget, the Carriage Wine & Market is your one-stop wine and craft beer destination in the heart of downtown Florence. In the mood to relax and wind down?

Indulge in our bar service featuring fine wines, wine cocktails, and craft beers, all paired perfectly with house-made small bites and charcuterie, and served with a smile in our cozy living room-style atmosphere. Come spend a little time with us and uncork your wine journey at the Carriage Wine & Market, located at 121 East Mobile Street on Mobile Plaza across from the Shoals Theater. Cheers! What an opening night. It is a jam-packed, full-capacity crowd here at Lost Pizza Shoals in historic downtown Florence. Benjamin Ray, Mikey, Ezekiel. And for the first time, we welcome in men's coach Tony Pujol.

Coach, how about this turnout tonight for the first episode? Unbelievable, huh? I mean, this community has been unbelievable, just the way they've come out for all our sports and the way they support this university. Can't talk enough about this community and how it supports every sports team and our university. And the running joke with basketball in the South, right? Nobody cares about basketball until January. That's not the case here. Not in Florence. Not in Florence. November, December basketball games have been fun in the bank. Coach, you just go back to last year.

I mean, last three, four years, right? This thing has really taken off. But what has the support from this community meant to you? It's been everything. I mean, our guys are completely energized with the students, the student-athletes that support one another. But the way the community has come out, one of the things that I learned in the development of this program and the development of every athletic program at the university, there was a thirst in our community for the days of, you know, Gary Elliott and Coach Jones in basketball, right?

Man, it was so much fun, the run that we had last year. And then we start this year, we play a couple of games at home in November, and it doesn't feel like November. It feels like January, February. So that just goes to show you the commitment that this community has with our programs. I'm very grateful to be a part of such a great community. And, Coach, how exciting it is to open ASUN play this Thursday on New Year's Day. A New Year's Day game has never happened in CB&S Bank Arena.

[46:44] This will be the first one. So very excited for the community. But as we kind of close the book on non-conference play, a lot of days off since December 19th. So what's it kind of look like over the break for the players? Yeah, the guys got to go home on the 20th, and we didn't bring them back to the 26th. We wanted to make sure that they spent time with their families during Christmas. We could have played a game after Christmas, but we thought, let's just bring them back and get them ready for conference play.

So they got a chance to go home, got a chance to spend time with family, and I think it was a good time for all of us to just kind of break away for a little bit. But I'll tell you right now, they've come back very enthusiastic. We had the first day. We brought them in, got a lift, got a practice in, practiced yesterday, gave them today where they can kind of, you know, kind of decide what they want to do. They all came in in the morning, and they were excited about getting back on the court.

And then we'll have two-day prep for Stetson starting tomorrow. So we're excited about this season, but right now our focus now is turning to Stetson on Thursday. Team 8, Coach, hard to believe it. It's been eight years now, right? Each team is unique. Each team has its own identity. What has stood out about this year's team through the non-conference slate? You know, let me go back April 2, 2018, right? That's when it all kind of began. My wife and I received a call that we were going to be the head coach at the University of North Alabama.

And that's a day that I am so grateful for because it connected me to this place. But now what this team means for me, it's a team that understands the last seven years and what the men that have been a part of this seven-year buildup of this team, what it means to them to have those guys come in here, sacrifice and work so hard from the coaches that have been here, the players that have played here. And these guys understand the mantle that they carry, right?

Because it has been passed on to them. The cool thing about it is that those guys also come back in the summer. Damian Forrest, Tay Fields, you know, guys like Will Soucy, they were all here during the summertime working out with our guys. So there's a brotherhood that's been built. And they're expecting this team to just carry the mantle, move it forward. By the way, quick sidebar. Since you brought up Tay Fields, I saw recently he went 16 of 17 overseas, had quite a game. 38. Yeah, scored 38 points, man.

Tay's a special human being, man. I'm so happy for him. You know, a couple of his teammates, you know, Cannon Jefferson and Dante Bacchus and, you know, all those guys, they stay in contact. You know, these guys are constantly talking to one another. And Tay, I think, is such a unique human being. I was fortunate to, and our staff for sure, we all, I think I'm speaking for them, that it's a privilege to coach a guy like that, right? Somebody that's all about winning. And now he's carrying it over in the pro level.

And we're just very proud of Tay and what he's been able to do. Yeah, a lot of guys succeeding at the pro level. And, you know, a lot of accomplishments last year. Obviously, put the book on that. And now you've got guys that got a taste of that last year. Now they're trying to find their own identity, as you talked about. And Dante Bacchus, what a great start to the season he's had. Cannon Jefferson, we're going to talk to him. And those guys, you know, they were first off the bench last year.

Now they're kind of, it's their time. And they're doing their thing. What have you seen with guys like that, guys like Kevin, just now that they've found their role as a starter, what they've done? Yeah, I think like anything else, the time of the year during the non-conference for us is to kind of get that identity built, right? And you have guys that were in role positions last year, Dante, Cannon, Kevin. You know, Dallas was a starter for us before he went down. Cornelius was a starter for us.

But those three guys are coming in, and they're trying to find their niche, right? And I think they've figured out some things. That's the cool thing about, you know, the games that we've played so far. It's really prepared us for what's coming. And, you know, I'm sure we'll talk about that. But the one thing I can tell you about these guys is winning is the most important thing. They're about going back and playing for championships. And when you do it collectively as a group, when you're connected with your teammates, they know that's when those special moments happen.

And that's a good thing about, you know, the legacy that guys have left behind is they've passed that torch to them is you want to make sure that we're continuing this. It's not about individuals. It's about the group. And this team, Coach, has some guys that have been around a while, Cornelius Williams, Dallas Howell. How much have they been kind of calming factors for this team as some of these guys have learned their new roles? Cannon Jefferson, too, right? He's been here for three years. So, you know, you've got you've got all these guys.

[51:46] I can tell you right now, Dallas Howell, you know, you look at his numbers right now and, you know, Dallas is coming off a pretty extensive injury. But he's been he has been so he's the type of player when he's on the court, everybody seems to be level, right? He's a he's a calming factor on the court just because of his leadership, his understanding. He's constantly communicating with his teammates. He definitely makes the game easier for all his teammates. So, man, it's a it's it's it's it's really important when Dallas is out there because he definitely makes a difference when when he's out on the court.

Let's talk about some of these other guys that are kind of the role players. Darkon King, how he's really come into his own as a sophomore. You got some of these young guys like Cortez, Braylon. What have they meant to this team and what kind of development have you seen from them during non-conference? Yeah, I think like anything else, all these guys, especially the young guys, right, like Braylon Patton and Cortez Graham. You know, those guys are going to it's going to take it's going to take some time with them.

And the good thing about it is they've got some veterans above them that that are going to kind of guide them through it. Right. So I'm really excited about their future. I'm excited about the things that they can bring to the table. But they got to keep putting in the work. Right. That's there's nothing here that's going to be given. They're going to have they're going to have to go out and earn everything they get. And, you know, to a man, those two guys have really put in the time.

And then we've got some guys that have come in. Like you're saying, Darkon, who's now in his second season. You know, he's he's he's one that's coming along really nicely. I know our staff is really they really have a lot of confidence in him when he's on the floor, both on both sides of the floor with him. It's going to be the consistency part. So we just need him to stay consistent, to continue to grow and contribute, understand his role and what he has to bring to the team.

Obviously, coach, the last three years have been great. And a lot of these guys have been along for that ride, the league championship last year in the regular season, the A-Sun championship game appearance. How much has that all fueled this team this year? Yeah, my hope is that they they understand that those moments are for them to carry the team and to continue to grow in the areas that we need to grow to year in and year out. Because we told them from day one that their target on their back right now is huge, especially in the league.

Right. So just know that every game, starting with Thursday's game against Stetson, they're going to receive their best blow and they got to be ready to meet that and surpass it. So our guys are going to they're going to get an understanding tomorrow when we present Stetson to them. They're going to get an understanding of what is needed in a game like that. And I'm going to tell you right now, it doesn't matter who we play in the league. I don't care what their record is.

When you start playing in this league, you better bring it because teams will catch you if you're not ready to play. Yeah, every single game, you got to come ready. That's a well-coached team that's coming to town Thursday, as we all know. Coach, let's kind of close the book on non-conference play officially. And since this is the first time we've gotten to talk this year, let's go back to San Francisco. I mean, we haven't gotten to talk about how big that win is. But for me, just my opinion, and you may agree, the Ole Miss win was huge.

But this San Francisco team, that might be one that's almost bigger than that, in my opinion. Yeah, I mean, turn around and look at their season so far, right? Like, we go down there, which, by the way, it's not an easy task to play down there. I don't know what their home record is like for the last three years. It's something ridiculous. But then they turn around the following week, and they beat Mississippi State in Tupelo. So, listen, it was a top 60 team in the country.

If you look at our schedule, anybody that follows analytics, if you look at the strength of schedule that our team has, top to bottom, it is ranked top 60 in the country. So, for us to go up against that type of talent on both the defensive side and the offensive side and be able to play, and the majority of those games on the road, and be able to get two road wins, you know, against teams like Jacksonville State and San Francisco, it just says a lot about this team and what it's capable of doing.

But a lot of credit goes to our guys and their resiliency, because I think in that game, the game began, we were down 24-6 with about eight minutes to play in the first half, and then by halftime, we were down two. So, our guys took their best blow, and then they just fought back. And then for Ken and Jefferson to make the play at the end of the game, after they just hit back-to-back threes to tie the game, was just significant for us. And then getting the defensive stop on the road was huge.

So, very, extremely proud of the way those guys competed out in San Francisco. Well, Coach, conference play opens up Thursday, Saturday, inside of the bank. Stetson at noon, Florida Gulf Coast, Dunk City, coming to town on Saturday as well. It's going to be a big opening week. And how excited are you? You guys haven't been in the bank since what? November. November. How excited are you to be back home with all of our friends? Yeah, unbelievable. I can't wait, right? I think our guys can't wait.

[56:58] You know, it's unbelievable that the conference season's already here. You know, it just seemed like yesterday the guys got here in June, right? That's seven months ago. So, I mean, we're just extremely excited to finally play back here at home. And I think our guys are as well. So, we're truly, truly looking forward to it. We can't wait. It'll start on Thursday. A run to March with Alabama and Stetson at 12 o'clock. We hope you'll join us at the bank. Coach, great first session with you. We're going to do this all season long.

Tell us about the next two guys coming up. Dallas, Howell, Cannon, Jefferson, what they mean to this program. Oh, I mean, well, I'll start with Cannon. You know, Cannon for us, Cannon played a role spot for us for the last two years playing behind Jakari Lane. And, you know, he was patient throughout that whole process. And, you know, the keys have been handed over to him now. And we couldn't ask for a better person to be running the program for us. He is one that has truly earned his spot.

And now what I need from him is not only from a basketball standpoint, but from a leadership standpoint, understand his role and what it means to our team. And his growth is going to be determined on how far this team goes. And I want him to understand that. And we've had conversations already about it. So I'm really excited and can't wait to see how that unfolds. As far as Dallas is concerned, Dallas is now in his sixth year with us. Obviously, he got hurt last year.

So we can't wait to see him now playing league play. It's been just a tough, you know, him coming back. But he has done it like a trooper. He's really worked his tail off. And I'm excited for him to see how the second half of the season rolls for him. We can't wait, Coach. Thursday inside the bank. We hope to see everybody out there. Coach, we'll see you there for sure. And we'll see you next week here at Lost Pizza Shoals. You got it. It's UNA head basketball coach Tony Pujol.

Coming up next, Dallas Howard, Cannon Jefferson will stop by. We'll see who wants to go first. This is UNA basketball night from Lost Pizza Shoals on 93.9 The Score. Looking for the perfect Christmas gift? You just found it at Lost Pizza. Located at the corner of Seminary and East Mobile Street in historic downtown Florence. Lost Pizza is serving up a holiday deal worth celebrating. Buy $25 worth of Lost Pizza gift cards and you'll get a $5 gift card for yourself. Because Santa says you deserve one too. This Christmas, give pizza.

And keep a little bit for you. Lost Pizza, downtown Florence. Burnley Spine and Sport Chiropractic is now offering soft wave therapy. Effective for osteoarthritis, plantar fasciitis, knee pain, foot ulcers, shoulder pain, and more. We also offer the only Theralight 360 red light therapy beds in the Shoals area. Helping with sleep, energy, recovery, pain, and inflammation. Therapies coupled with dry kneeling can help with sugar point and muscular pain. In addition, we also offer genetic testing, deep tissue laser, adjustments, and more. Burnley Spine and Sport Chiropractic is now open Saturdays to better serve our patients.

Please visit us at burnleychiro.com. Hi, this is Ike Fowler with Alabama Health Guidance. Whether you are looking for a Medicare health plan or you are under 65 and exploring individual health care options, Alabama Health Guidance can help you find the plan that fits your needs. Our local agents make it simple, so stop by our office at 885 Florence Boulevard or give us a call at 256-648-5710. Have you ever seen those halftime scholarships where you have to nail a 40-yard field goal? Yeah, this isn't that. I didn't have to write a long essay or audition or make a half-court shot.

I just had to open a bank independent account, use my debit card, sign up for online banking, and have a positive balance. That's it. A 20% scholarship to UNA. When bank independent invests in students like me, they're investing in all of us and the future of our community. Bank independent. We're invested in your future. Member FDIC. Hey guys, how long have you been wearing those out-of-date, scratched-up glasses? This is Dr. Ham Moore with Renaissance Eye Care. Go ahead and do as the woman in your life has been asking and schedule an eye exam.

You can go to renaissanceeyecare.com or call 767-5000 to see either Dr. Kathy Werner, Dr. Lisa Campbell, or myself. Everyone knows it's time to evaluate the health of your eyes and get a new pair of glasses. We can make sure you won't miss any of the action this fall and roar lines. Join us at Singing River Brewery, your local hub for great beer and community fun. Ready to serve delicious drinks and host amazing events? Try our Golden Manor Leo's Roar and 50% goes to UNA Athletics. Support your local business and college community while enjoying a fantastic atmosphere.

[1:02:02] Don't miss out on the good times. Come sip, socialize, and savor the taste of Singing River Brewery. Got wine? Offering 10% off six or more bottles of mix-and-match wine and an unmatched selection of nearly a thousand different wines to suit any budget, the Carriage Wine & Market is your one-stop wine and craft beer destination in the heart of downtown Florence. In the mood to relax and wine down? Indulge in our bar service featuring fine wines, wine cocktails, and craft beers, all paired perfectly with house-made small bites and charcuterie, and served with a smile in our cozy living room-style atmosphere.

Come spend a little time with us and uncork your wine journey at the Carriage Wine & Market, located at 121 East Mobile Street on Mobile Plaza across from the Shoals Theater. Cheers! Welcome back down to the Lost Pizza Shoals for UNA Basketball Night. I'm Benjamin Ray alongside Mike Ezekiel. And next up, we've got North Alabama's starting point guard, Cannon Jefferson, New Orleans' finest. Hard to believe your third season. First of all, third season, it feels like you've been here five years. You've been a part of this great run, Cannon Jefferson.

How are you doing this evening? I'm doing good. How are y'all? We're good. Thank you so much for stopping by tonight. Christmas break, how was it going home? Did you get to see any old friends? I did. I got to see family, big brothers, old friends from high school, friends I grew up with. Got to see them all. It was good seeing them. And of course, for people that don't know, you've got a good connection to the Manning family. I do. Those are seeing them when I stopped by.

I think it was someday when I stopped by, we talked and caught up, and it was good. And then now he's playing at his bowl game right now, so I'm going to support them here. Yeah, it's really cool. And Ben's old good friend, Archie Manning, always good to hear about him and his connection to you. He talked about you by name when he came to Florence a couple years ago, so that's really cool. Cannon, hearing Coach Puhul talk just a moment ago about your journey and the patience you had those first two years and how you contributed, but now the keys are yours.

What's it like to have that confidence from your head coach? It's good. You know, just building the confidence with him was the main thing, was just coming here these first two years, learning from the guys. I was, that were in front of me, Jakari Lane, KJ Johnson, Tay Fields, Daniel Ortiz, some great players. Just playing behind them first two years kind of built me for this moment. I've just been ready to take on the challenge. And what are some of the things that you learned from playing behind some of those great guys?

Really just patience, honestly. Just patience. Figuring out the game, the speed of the game kind of slowed down when you learn more about it. It kind of paved the way for me, and I'm forever thankful for that. You know, you mentioned a lot of those names like KJ, Jakari, and some of those great duos over the last few years. But we got quite a great duo now with you and Kev. Right. So talk about Kev and his development as a sophomore and what it's like playing with him in the backcourt.

It's good. You know, me and Kev talk. We're roommates now sometimes in the hotel. I think it's just fun playing with a guy like Kev. Just high energy always. Just pick a guy up like me sometimes when I'm kind of low on energy or any other teammates. Kev's always going to be aggressive offensively, defensively. So it's fun playing alongside Kev. Now for you, you knew your role was going to expand coming into this season. So what was the offseason like for you? It was good. Just a lot of work really just kind of built confidence in myself knowing that this year is going to be a bigger role, bigger challenge.

So just kind of this offseason really just focusing on just bettering myself, kind of just being able to do anything I can to just provide wins for our team. We go into a new chapter in January as we start conference play on New Year's Day, this Thursday at noon at home. Yes, sir. But as we kind of put the close the book on non-conference play and look back, what did you learn over those 11 games? Not only about yourself, but what did this team also learn? A lot.

I think our team, we learned a lot about just our chemistry. We went through a lot of challenges. We overcame some games, fell short some games. But I think it was all just lessons, honestly, that we can carry over to the conference schedule. You had a game winner, San Francisco. Take us through that and what that felt like for you to close the game out. It was good. Honestly, it might not seem like it to everyone, but I really wasn't having the best of the game, that game, San Francisco.

But I just kind of stayed confident, stayed aggressive, thing that Coach Tony helps me every day, just kind of staying positive. And the moment just came, honestly. We were just chipping away. San Francisco is a great team, and we were just chipping away team defensively. And I was put in a position at the end of the game to make a play, and that's what I did. Yeah, and when the ball's in your hands, you've got to come up big. And you showed that you could do that in that game.

Yes, sir. You talked about it wasn't your best individual performance that night. You've had some really good ones, I think, about Alabama A&M. Jacksonville State, you had 16 in that game. Yes, sir. Played nearly the whole way. Mississippi State in the opener led late in the second half of that game. You had 16 there. Yes, sir. What's been some of your favorite, I guess, individual games that you've had so far? I would say my favorite game probably so far was Jacksonville State. Jacksonville State was just a comeback.

[1:07:19] First game of the month, really just kind of trying to start December. December off right, so just chipping away. Again, didn't really play the best I wanted to first half, but just staying positive, chipping away, team win. That was really a big game. San Francisco was a – I just love it because it was a big team win. That playing right back was just so much better. Coming off that win, locker room was always the best. But those two games were probably the top of my season so far.

You look at this roster and you and I might have one of the bigger front courts out there, right? You got Cornelius Williams, one of the best mid-major big men. You got Dallas Howell who's been around forever. He's the marksman from three. And Dante Bacchus kind of the do-it-all big man. What's it like playing with those three? Helpful. I mean, it's amazing. I think we take advantage of that. Like you said, Cornelius is, in my opinion, the top big in this whole conference. And he shows that kind of every night.

Dallas is a guy you're going to get the leadership out of him every night. Some big shots. Dante's another big piece for us to rebound, score points. So those three guys are really big for us every night. They might not know, but they really are helpful every single night for us. You know, the guard room, it always seems like it was like the veteran presence there. And this year it seems like you're now the veteran guy. You got a lot of young guys like Kev. You got guys like Braylon Patton, Cortez Graham Howard.

He'll bring the ball up every now and then. Yes, sir. What's it like being, I guess, the veteran of this young core of guards now? It's crazy, honestly. Just time just flies. You know, it feels like I was just a freshman playing behind Jakari and KJ. So just kind of being in that role, just talking to them after practice, they're kind of asking questions, wanting to learn. And it just reminds me that that was me, honestly. It feels like kind of it was yesterday, but it was really two years ago and time's just flying.

But it's great to be in the position just to lead them, just have fun, just cherish the moments with them. So, yes, sir. So, what, since you've been here, North Alabama's won a regular season championship, made the NIT run. So you've been a part of some of the best Division I moments. And how much have you all been fueled by that? I know I have. If Coach Tony wore his ring to practice out there, they kind of just remind us that that's our goal. And honestly, yeah, this – I've been on some great teams at UNA so far.

Last year was a big year for us. And this year, hopefully, we're just trying to push through that last wall to make it to March Madness. Yeah, and kind of last thing for me, closing the book on last year's team and all those accomplishments. You're finding your own identity now. What's the team goal as you go into January, go into conference play, and make that run towards March? For us, I think just high energy. Like, I think we always need to just keep our foot on the gas.

We just don't let up. We're a really talented team, and we've got a lot of depth to our team. But I think if we just piece it together every half, just 40 minutes a night, we'll be a really dangerous team and a really fun team to watch. What's been your favorite part about playing in the bank? Of course, it's the vault, the fans, the everyone that comes in support. It's amazing playing in Florence. We weren't able to all of December, so the first, I'm definitely going to be excited to be back in front of our home crowd.

I miss it, honestly, so I'm excited. Now, you mentioned the championship ring. Where's your ring? Mine's sitting on top of my dresser. I don't really bring it out too often like Coach Tony here, but I like to keep mine just on my dresser. I just see it before I go to sleep. Just give me a little quick reminder. Night of Champions, the home opener against Lane. What did it mean to you to get that ring in that moment? What was your reaction when you saw it for the first time?

My reaction was crazy. The ring, it's a nice ring. It's heavy, too. It was a good moment just to see everyone have guys like Will Soucy come back. Tate Fields, his parents came. It was just a fun moment to enjoy with the guys. Glad we came out with the win. Glad seeing everyone in the bank. It was just fun. Smiles on everyone's faces. All right, Cannon, last thing. What's it going to take for this team to make another historic run through the Atlantic Sun? Connection. Chemistry.

Positivity. Just joy, honestly. I think we're right there, honestly. I think we have a, of course, have a great chance. And I think we'll get it done this year. And I'm excited. We're excited as well. We can't wait to watch you Thursday. Inside of the bank against Stetson. Atlantic Sun play opens up. 12 o'clock tip. We hope you'll join us. Cannon, set up our next guest, Dallas Howell. Coach Pujol's been here eight years. Dallas has been here for six of those eight years. Now, what does he mean to this program?

A lot. When you have a guy that's been here for six years, he kind of, he knows everything. He knows what TP's going to scream at us about. He knows what Coach Smitty, they're going to say. So Dallas is still, like you say, I'm a vet. Dallas is the vet vet. So he kind of helps us with everything. Yes, sir. It's fun having him. The vet vet is coming up next. Cannon Jefferson, thanks for joining us, sir. Thank you all for having me. That's Cannon Jefferson next.

[1:12:19] We chat with the vet vet, Dallas Howell here at Lost Pizza Shoals for U&A Basketball Night on 93.9 The Score. Looking for the perfect Christmas gift? You just found it at Lost Pizza. Located at the corner of Seminary and East Mobile Street in historic downtown Florence. Lost Pizza is serving up a holiday deal worth celebrating. Buy $25 worth of Lost Pizza gift cards, and you'll get a $5 gift card for yourself. Because Santa says you deserve one, too. This Christmas gift pizza. And keep a little bit for you.

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I just had to open a bank-independent account, use my debit card, sign up for online banking, and have a positive balance. That's it. A 20% scholarship to UNA. When bank-independent invests in students like me, they're investing in all of us and the future of our community. Bank-independent, we're invested in your future. Member FDIC. Hey guys, how long have you been wearing those out-of-date, scratched-up glasses? This is Dr. Ham Moore with Renaissance Eye Care. Go ahead and do as the woman in your life has been asking and schedule an eye exam.

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Come spend a little time with us and uncork your wine journey at the Carriage Wine & Market, located at 121 East Mobile Street on Mobile Plaza across from the Shoals Theater. Cheers! Time flies when you're having fun. In our last segment, the super veteran, the, what did Cannon call you? The veteran veteran joins us next. The vet, vet Dallas Howell, his sixth season at North Alabama. He's back. He's healthy from Enterprise, Alabama. Dallas, how's it feel to be back? It feels great. Just thankful to be able to come back again and not have to end my career.

Howell went down last year, but just excited to be back on the court playing with my guys and having fun. Obviously, you went through Senior Day last year, but you made sure that they announced that you were coming back. How quickly did you make that decision that you were coming back? I told, my grandpa talks about this all the time with me. Right after I got hurt down in the locker room, the coaches came in after the game, and I was laying on the couch to keep my knee elevated, and they came by me first.

And I think it was the second thing I told him was that I just wasn't done with this game yet, and that if they'd have me back, that I'd come back. And he told me right then and there that they'd do whatever it took to get me back out there. Yeah, obviously, it was a tough time when that happened right away, but we could sense, okay, he's not done. He's back. It's really good to see. Time for a stat of the day. Haven't had one yet.

[1:17:23] Here's your stat of the day. There's not a lot of six-year players in college basketball today. There's only seven that have been at the same school for six years, and he's one of them. Four of those are at the power level. And for you to do it here at North Alabama, six years to be in a company with players from Oklahoma, Texas, Iowa State, USC, it's got to be kind of special. Absolutely, and it just speaks to this community in my eyes that there's just so much love here, and there's nowhere else I'd rather be.

There's nowhere else I could see myself playing other than right here around this community with these people that show so much love and support, and it's just so special here. I think of you. I think of a guy like Will Susi who got the extra year, right, the fifth year. What is it about this place that has made you feel that way? It's just how special everybody makes you feel. You know, everybody talks to you like your family. Everybody comes up. Everybody knows your name, and you know all theirs because of how much support they show and how much they're around.

It's just the effort that gets put in, you know, day in, day out by everybody around the community. Yeah, and speaking of community turnout, how exciting is it that Thursday we get to open conference play at home, New Year's Day, never hosted a New Year's game in CB&S Bank Arena, so it'll be really exciting. But you've played in front of the bank for a long time. You saw those sold-out crowds. What's it like playing at home? It's an unreal experience, and we've been itching for it for a while.

You know, didn't have a home game in December. It's been a while since we played in front of them and just ready to get back out there and feel that love again, feel that support. Now, you arrived way back in the 2020-21 season, which was the year after COVID, the COVID season, as everybody calls it. So you arrive in December of that year, and wouldn't you know it, UNA makes a run to the A-Sun Championship that year. Then two years later, a CBI invite. I also had the big splash with KJ hitting the half-court buzzer beater against Lipscomb.

Last year, I know it was a great year. I know it was tough for you as well, but UNA makes a great run into the NIT. I mean, what's it been like for you to be a part of all these historic Division I moments? It's just awesome to look back on, you know, to see not only how far I've come as a player, but to see how far the town has come and the program has come. I mean, I remember the COVID season, you know, the gym had to be empty because of COVID, so it was just cardboard cutouts of people.

And now it's going back to last year, seeing those crowds for the A-Sun Tournament was just unreal to see that difference. Yeah, what a special year that was. And now you get another opportunity starting Thursday, 18 games coming up. And obviously you go one at a time, but what's kind of the goal, the expectation for your final season to be special and what you would want it to be? The expectation is always you have to look at it, obviously, like you said, game by game, but then it's also you've got to look at it as you're going undefeated every day.

And then even when you lose one, you look at the next one, okay, we're starting to go undefeated here. You've got to go 1-0 every time, and that's just the mindset that we're going to come into it with and just attack every day. Team 8, and again, you've been here for six of the eight teams, right? But what's been unique about this year's team? This team is just, it feels like we're so competitive, and we just, we want to win so bad that we just have to hone in how we have to affect winning as a team.

And that's something that's been kind of fun to look at as individuals and as a team together and try and figure out, okay, how can I help this person improve, or how can I help the team improve in this aspect? And it's just something that's been interesting with this group. You've been with a lot of your teammates for a while. You've definitely been with this coaching staff a long time. Talk about Coach Pujol. Talk about coaches like Ahmaud Smith, guys that you've been with a long time, and how that factored into you being here all six years.

For sure. I mean, you know, at that point, or at this point, those guys are family. And it's just, they show so much passion for not just the sport, but for the people that they bring in and for the community around them. And it just shows that they grow everything that they touch. And it's just, it's fun to see, and it's fun to be a part of, and fun to be part of their family now that they've brought in through this program. We talked to Alyssa Clutter about this when she was on earlier, but you kind of see things differently when you're rehabbing, watching games from the bench last year.

How do you feel like you grew as a player through that process? I think it just helps. Obviously, one thing that it helps with is patience, understanding that everything's going to happen on its own time, and you can't really do anything to affect that. But then also, just helping seeing the game from a different perspective, seeing it from how the coaches are seeing it, and not so much as how we see it on the court. So you have to understand the difference in how they're talking to you or how you have to listen to them there.

So it's just kind of relaying that to my teammates and myself best I can. And kind of being that extra coach, traveling, being on the bench, seeing it from a different perspective, have you been able to channel that this year as you've tried to develop your game back to what it used to be or maybe now is something a little different? There's for sure a middle ground that I have to find with, like, say in the right amount or sometimes I'll get quiet or sometimes I feel like I say too much.

So I was trying to find that middle ground of being both a player and the coach in that aspect. But it's been something that I've been trying to figure out as I'm going along. You came off the bench against Mississippi State, right? When you checked in, what was that feeling like for you? It was just a surreal experience. Just felt like everything I'd worked for for the past, I think it was nine months at that time, maybe ten months at that time that had gone by.

[1:22:44] And it was just an experience that I'll never forget of just stepping out on that court again, especially in an environment like that where there's all those people and just a great team that you're playing against. It's what you work for, you know? So it was just fun to experience that. And staying on that same train of thought, two days later, you're back in the bank for the first time playing. You're getting your ring. You're seeing the banner, the naming of Gary Elliott court. And then you get to play and you get that start.

And you've started every game since. But that first game back in the bank, was that memorable for you? Absolutely, absolutely. And it's something that I go back and think about a lot. Just, you know, I go out to that spot on the court before games sometimes where I had my injury last year and just take a knee and just think about, okay, that happened. And now all this work that I've put in to come back and to get to stand on that spot again and perform in front of, you know, the people that come to CB&S and play with my teammates is just something I'll never take for granted.

Let's talk about this team and some of your teammates. And he's here, Cannon Jefferson. You've played with him the last two years. And what's it been like for you seeing him take such a huge step forward this year? It's been great. You know, I've talked about it with past teammates and current teammates and whatever for the past couple of years, how good Cannon is and how good he can be when given the opportunity and just knowing that your time's going to come. And he's a great example of it.

Just knowing that, okay, you're behind some guys that are unreal. And no matter how good you may perform, you have to wait your turn. And he's done that so well. And now he's getting his chance to perform and he's taking advantage of it. And it's just – it's fun to see that. Yeah, and talk about some of these other guys that have gotten to do that as well. Kevin DeKovacic moving in as a sophomore, really kind of taken into his role. Dante Bacchus as a forward and what he's done this year.

He was kind of the sixth man last year. A lot of development and a lot of growth from guys that were role players last year and now have become starters. Yeah, that's something that we're big on. You know, we saw it returning 10 guys from last year. It's just something that you have to – it's a culture thing. It has to be ingrained in you to expect, okay, now I've been in the program a year. I've waited my turn. I've worked for it. Now I have to take that jump and show what I can do.

And we've had a lot of guys step up and do that this year. And we've got to do it even more so going into conference play. Cornelius Williams, Dante Bacchus, and yourselves. Three of the biggest bigs you could have in a lineup in the A-Sun, right? We've got a good stat. You and A undefeated when outscoring opponents in the paint. Undefeated when outrebounding a team. How much pride has this team taken in kind of being the bullies on the court? We take a lot of pride in it.

And it's something that we have to keep performing in every night and every practice. We have to put a focus on it because that's where we can be dominant. And that's what we've shown this year so far. And we want to continue showing that. But when you have guys like Dante and Neil, it's hard not to be dominant in the paint. So it's something that we have to lean into and lean on. And then obviously we work on the other sides to win that. Okay, that's failing a little bit.

Now we can go to the other aspects of the game and really dominate there too. Yeah, speaking of dominating the paint, you take yourself, Jamal, and Neil. Those three players, 31 blocks combined. I mean, that's really impressive. I think there may not be another trio in the A-Sun that's done that. So what's that like? Do you take pride in that part of your game, getting the swatted shots? Absolutely. And it's something that, you know, I try and think of myself as a fixer on the court. And that's something that's a…

The blocks are where that shows most is where you can see something like that and go and fix maybe your own mistake or sometimes somebody else's. But just plays like that, especially from guys like Jamal and Neil, when they are cleaning up around the rim like that, it really gives your defense a sense of confidence. They're like, no matter, okay, now I can pressure. Because even if I get beat, he's there to help me. Basketball in Alabama. People say that we don't worry about basketball until after football season, right?

That's not been the case at UNA. How eager are you to be back inside the bank on Thursday? So ready. So ready to see that community again and get to perform for them and hopefully put on a… play a great game for them. Yeah, you know, it's really cold outside right now. That cold front came in. Got to have a hoodie, maybe some fuzzy socks, all the warm gear. It's a warm CB&S make arena, though, so all the reason for fans to come out and watch 70-degree temperature basketball game.

Absolutely. That's the best part is the climate control. That's why you play it, you know? That's right. Dallas, what's it going to take for this team to make a run through the A-Sun? It's just going to take playing unbelievably great team basketball and playing for each other. And like you said, we're leaning on our inside presence and go from there. But just taking pride in who we are as a team and making plays for each other. And if we can do that, I don't think there's a team in the A-Sun that can stop us this year.

We can't wait. The journey begins Thursday inside of CB&S Bank Arena, North Alabama in Stetson. Saturday against Florida Gulf Coast as well. Big opportunity to come out and support UNA as they open up A-Sun play. Dallas, year six, man, we're so excited you're back. It was almost one of those things that you think Dallas will come back. I know the announcement last year was very special, but everybody's enjoyed watching you back out there on the floor, man. Enjoy this last ride. Yes, sir. Thank you.

[1:27:46] That's Dallas Howell. We appreciate everybody coming out tonight here for the first episode this year of UNA Basketball Night from Lost Pizza Shoals. But, Mike, we're going to do this every Monday from 7 to 8.30 p.m. We started tonight's special. There's the Alabama game that we've got to get on 93.9 here in just a little bit. But, hey, we're off and running with conference basketball. Yeah, and what an amazing crowd. Lost Pizza has always been a great partner. If you're listening online or 93.9 The Score, make sure you get out here at least once.

I think if you come one time, you'll keep coming back. Chuck and his staff do an incredible job, excited to host the show here. It was a capacity crowd. Thanks to everybody for coming out. Thanks to Chuck, for Blair back at the station, for Braden, Grant, and Ty in-house. For Coach Bullho, Coach Whitaker, all of our guests. Mikey Zekio. I'm Benjamin Rape saying roar lines. We'll see you next week, 7 o'clock here, same place. Lost Pizza Shoals. 93.9 The Score. This is U&A Basketball Night. You've been listening to U&A Basketball Night at Lost Pizza Company, featuring Coach Candy Whitaker and Coach Tony Poole.

U&A Basketball Night has been brought to you by Lost Pizza, Bank Independent, Burnley Spine and Sport, Renaissance Eye Care, The Carriage Wine and Market, Alabama Health Guidance, and Singing River Brewery. Thanks for listening, and Roar Lions! Valley Broadcasting Corporation, WITK-FM, Rogersville, Athens, Decatur, The Shore, Sports Radio 93.9 The Score.