UNA Basketball Night @ Lost Pizza w/Benjamin Ray 01/12/26

[0:00] It's time for UNA Basketball Night at Lost Pizza Company, featuring Coach Candy Whitaker 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. We flip on the light switch to week number three down here at Lost Pizza Shoals in historic downtown Florence for episode three of UNA Basketball Night.

Benjamin Ray, Mike Ezekiel back with you. And Mike, after three straight losses for both programs, it's nice to be talking about a W for both teams. It was just a little reset on Saturday with games against Bellarmine. You're exactly right. You don't always like to take moral victories, but I think both teams took a lot of what they learned at EKU and some of the confidence they had in that game into Saturday and turned that into a victory. And looking really good going into next week, you've got a great opportunity here to get back even.

And obviously, you've taken a game at a time, but a great opportunity ahead for this team. Getting those wins on Saturday, those are huge momentum builders. Let's start with the men, and they dropped a road contest to Eastern Kentucky. Then they bounced back with a win against Bellarmine. And it's like something clicked against Bellarmine. A very slow start to that ball game. Dallas Howell, eight of nine from three. Cornelius Williams, a double-double. And that's really what got UNA going. You know, sometimes it's as simple as you just take the lid off the rim sometimes.

And you might be doing everything right in a game, and you're playing good defense. The shots just aren't falling. Well, in that game, they certainly fell 11 of 21 behind the arc and really limited Bellarmine and what they do. They were the second-best three-point shooting team in the league at that point. Limited them behind the arc and made a lot of shots. Dallas Howell, as you said, went eight of nine, virtually unstoppable, especially from that corner that he kept shooting from. And just a really good game. And Cordelius Williams, also a big breakout game for him, 20 points, 15 rebounds, a big factor in that win over Bellarmine as well.

Then the other side, the UNA women dropped a heartbreaker to Eastern Kentucky, who's actually probably the best team in the league right now. They had a big win Saturday against Central Arkansas, so top-tier team, two-point loss. And that kind of propelled the Lions to a dominant win on Saturday over Bellarmine. Yeah, and again, you don't want to talk about moral victories too much, but you look at what UNA did in that EKU game. They're going to have an opportunity to win there with the last possession and just didn't go their way.

But turned that into a huge win on Saturday, led wire to wire, just looked like the better team throughout. And you're playing like that against an EKU team on Thursday that right now seems to be the cream of the crop. And then you turn that into a dominant win on Saturday. It shapes up as you take it a game at a time. And when you get into February and March, that type of stuff will pay off. We've got some absolute Titans with us here this evening.

Player lineup will have Jazzy Kling momentarily. Allie Alvarado's here as well on the men's side where we're going with some young Lions. Braylon Patton, Cortez Graham, they'll make their debuts here at UNA Basketball Night. Tony Pujol will stop by in just a little bit as well. But coming up next, subbing in for head coach Candy Whitaker. We've got Kayla Petrie who's going to swing by to talk some UNA women's basketball. We'll take our first time out. When we come back, we'll catch up with Coach Petrie.

This is UNA Basketball Night from Lost Pizza Shoals on 93.9 The Score. No matter the size of your team or your fan crew, Lost Pizza's got you covered. We're talking wings, salads, and the one and only Monster Pizza. Perfect for team dinners, watch parties, or post-game celebrations. Big plays deserve big flavor, and nobody delivers like Lost Pizza. Feed the team, feel the fans. Go big with Lost Pizza. 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 burnleycaro.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.

[5:18] When bank independent invests in students like me, they're investing in all of us and the future of our community. Bank independent. 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 Lions. 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 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 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! Things were going great for a while. We're off and running here at UNA Basketball Night from Loss Pizza Shoals in North Alabama.

Associate Head Coach Kayla Petrie subbing in for Head Coach Candy Whitaker. Coach Petrie, making your debut here at UNA Basketball Night, what pizza did you go with? Hard-hitting question out of the gates. I went with the Cujo. The Cujo. Fantastic. I'm not familiar with that one. What are the toppings? I think it was like a Supreme. Gotcha. A little bit of everything. A little bit of everything. That's the way to go right there. Year one here at the University of North Alabama. First of all, what's been your overall impression of Florence, the Shoals, and UNA?

Well, first off, I'm from Texas, and when I first got here, you know, Texans were very, very proud to be from Texas. Yes. And so, when I started calling home, telling people about my experience, I was like, y'all are not going to believe this, but this place is just like Texas. Everybody is nice. Everybody's helpful. So friendly. So that is like the biggest compliment I could give somebody. I love it here. Very, very, very nice. Very, very welcoming from day one. Well, it's a great community, and I want to talk about your journey from West Texas.

It's a small town called Cisco, which is an amazing town, by the way. Home of Hilton's first hotel. I believe you told me that. Oh, yeah. And home of a really good restaurant called Slowpoke Cafe Bin. Okay. Amazing. White beans and cornbread. It was a lot of fun. Anyway, so you start there. That was where your career kind of blossomed, and then began playing at Texas Tech. Went on that big Elite Eight run with that team. And then coaching. I mean, it's taken you all over the place.

It's a very successful head coaching career, but get connected with Coach Whitaker, another West Texas person. Why UNA? Why this community, and why Coach Whitaker? Well, first off, I've known Coach Whitaker for 20 years. She was at Texas Tech a couple of years before me, and then when I was at South Plains College in Leveland, that's when she was at Texas Tech. So our paths always kind of intertwined, and we've been friends for a long time, but I've always respected her. And when she called me this spring, it was a no-brainer, and it's been great so far.

Now, Coach Whitaker's not here, so you can be honest. Coach Whitaker, the player at Texas Tech, how good was she? I will tell you this. She was crazy tough. I remember, so I was a JUCO player and watching the Tech games all the time when they were recruiting me, so that's when she was playing. She broke her finger, and her pinky was crooked, but she was just so tough, and you would see her dribbling, but crazy intelligent, really, really good defender, really, really smart. Her team was really good also.

And similar path for you, same as Coach Whitaker. JUCO to Texas Tech, and that kind of launched your coaching career. Yes, sir. It was good. Back in the early 2000s, Texas Tech kind of was, it was the place. The team, my senior year, we were ranked number one in the country a little bit. I think there were 10 players that made a WNBA roster. I was not one of them, but I cheered hard and had a lot of fun. But that was where every West Texas little girl wanted to grow up and go.

[10:27] Yeah, quite a star-studded roster as you look back and see some of the players that came through Texas Tech, especially that year that you're referring to. And speaking of star-studded, let's talk about this team and these two girls that you got here today that's going to come on the show, Jazzy and Allie. Talk about this roster and talk about these two in particular that we're going to hear from tonight. These two that are here with us tonight are unbelievable. They both just play with tremendous amount of heart.

They love the game, and they both overcame a little bit of adversity with a little bit of injuries and whatnot. Allie is tough and smart and big-time score force, and both of them play with a lot of passion. Staying on the star player train right now, Gabby Jackson, true freshman, named ASUN Freshman of the Week. She was unbelievable, had a double-double one game, leading score for UNA in ASUN play, as well as the top rebounder for UNA in ASUN play. But how much has she grown up through these first four games?

Yeah, she is on fire lately. She has tremendous confidence, tremendous poise. She's a competitor and works really hard, so I'm happy to see her have some success. I think she is doing now what the coaches saw last year in recruiting her. They knew that she was going to be an impact player, and that's exactly what she's doing. Yeah, going back to the press conference after Thursday's game and just seeing the confidence from Coach Whitaker to put the ball in her hands in that last play and obviously didn't go how she wanted it to, and she owned that.

But to be a true freshman, to be in that position, and then to go into the next game and do the same thing, just go completely dominant, play really good basketball, good team basketball too, it says a lot to be in that position as a freshman. Absolutely. You know, it shows the confidence that she had, and after the game, Coach said she would have drawn up the same play. She would have went there. Gabby's got a bright future. Let's talk about the two games from this past week, and obviously it was a tough road trip down to Florida to open.

You love that you're coming home, but then you get Eastern Kentucky, overlooked by many, I'm sure, but right now the best team in the Atlantic Sun on paper and seeing them, but you guys drop a tough one, 80-78, shot at nearly 80% in the first quarter, never really looked back, and I know we dropped that ball game, but did that kind of send the team a message like, hey, we are in a good spot, we can play with anybody? I think we're the type of team that we respect everyone but don't fear anyone, but going into the game, we talked about, Coach Whitaker had said that, you know, they were one of the best team, maybe the best team that she had seen in the A-Sun since she's been the coach here, and so to go in and have that kind of success, even though that we came up a little bit short, I think it was huge for our girls' confidence, you know, we know that we can play with anybody, and if we can just get, continue to get healthy, I think that we're going to go on an upswing here soon.

Yeah, and we know in this league, things can flip like a griddle, you know, you got a team like that on Thursday coming to town, and then to turn that into a win on Saturday, just a tremendous game, just leading the way you did, but talk about just the ebbs and flows that you go through and the confidence that you get, not just from a moral victory, but to turn that into a real win on Saturday. Yeah, it definitely was fun, I did think Coach Whitaker was going to chew through her bubble gum, I mean, it was crazy, she was stomping the floor, she was chewing that gum, but to see that fire and that passion and the girls to feed off, it was fun to be a part of, but like I said, I think we're just going to carry that over into this week, we're going down to Florida for the Jacksonville-North Florida swing, and we took yesterday off, we had a lot of shooting and skills today, film, weights, but took the day off from like team practice to kind of get some of these nagging injuries to nurse them a little bit, so hopefully we're going to have, not hopefully, I know we're going to have a great practice tomorrow, and then we'll head down to Florida and make this momentum carry on.

Speaking of Coach Whitaker, and the stomping and the bubble gum chewing, one thing about this staff is, you guys are always dressed in your Sunday best, right, for every single game, and it's kind of an era of college basketball on both sides, where it's a little more relaxed on the sidelines, where most people, they'll coach kind of how I'm looking, and a pullover, maybe even some sweats some games, but not you guys, what's it like trying to keep up with Coach Whitaker and the flair and what she brings to the sidelines?

It's definitely a challenge, she had gold shoes on, it was the gold rush game, on Saturday, Thursday was the whiteout, do you think Coach Pujols and his staff text each other, hey what are you wearing, because she and I actually had a text thread going before the game, like, it's a whiteout, do we need to wear a white suit, and she was like, yeah both of us don't need to wear white, and I was like, okay, you got it, so she rocked the all white suit, and I did the white blazer, black pants, but yeah, not typical for a staff, but she brings it, doesn't she?

[15:37] I like it. She looks very nice. When I go on the road with you guys, I always feel, I can't wear my pullover, I've got to put on a jacket or something, I've got to meet the standard that you guys are setting on the sidelines. You know, imitation is the best form of flattery, so we appreciate that. Well, let's start with this question, would you rather dress for a whiteout or a goldout, and then just going back through all your years of coaching, what's been your favorite outfit that just comes to mind if you think of your favorite one?

I used to name my outfits back when it was, like, when everybody dressed up, and so I had one that was America, it was blue, blue jacket, white shirt, black pants, red heels, America. America. I love it. All right, coming up next, you guys head back down to Florida, the Jacksonville swing, Thursday against North Florida, Saturday against Jacksonville, and we've been playing these teams now for eight years, and we're very familiar with both programs, two of the better programs in the Atlantic Sun since we've joined back in 2018, but what's the challenge down in Florida this weekend?

Jacksonville beat Georgia Tech, I believe. They're my scout, so I'm more familiar with them. I believe that they play very similar to EKU, kind of that five-out, you know, dribble-drive motion, a lot of ball screens, shoot a lot of threes. They're making eight to ten threes a game, getting to the free throw line about 25 times, so if our transition defense is there and we can take away the three and maybe rebound a little bit, we'll be okay, and North Florida's very similar, both strong teams. Three of the next four on the road for the Lions, they'll be home next Thursday against Queens, but this weekend it's a trip down south to Jacksonville, North Florida and Jacksonville.

Coach Petrie, we appreciate you swinging by and filling in for Coach Whitaker, and best of luck this weekend. It's really fun. Don't tell her that I talked about her gum. Never, never. Secret is safe with us. We'll take a timeout. We got two players. We'll see who wants to come up next, Jazzy Kling or Ali Alvarado when we come back. This is UNA Basketball Night for Balls Pizza Shoals on 93.9 The Score. Burnley Spine and Sport Chiropractic is now offering soft wave therapy effective for osteoarthritis, and the one and only monster pizza.

Perfect for team dinners, watch parties, or post-game celebrations. Big plays deserve big flavor, and nobody delivers like lost pizza. Feed the team, fuel the fans. Go big with lost pizza. 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 burnleycaro.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 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. Prohibition is over. And the good times will flow once again at the Florence Wine Fest, February 20th and 21st. Friday night sets its own with coupes, cocktails, and velvet smooth live music.

[20:53] Saturday afternoon, taste your way through an unforgettable wine experience. Then Saturday night, the city comes alive with the Florence Wine Fest free block party and concert. Featuring Atlanta's great grand finale band. Free block party tickets and full event details are at FlorenceWineFest.com. Proudly presented by Visit the Shoals with support from CB&S Bank, Clearview Cancer Institute, and the Hotels of Florence. Our next guest here on UNA Basketball Night from Lost Pizza Shoals, Allie Alvarado, a redshirt senior guard from Richmond, California. She came to North Alabama after a standout career at San Francisco State, where she finished her career there.

Sixth in program history and total scoring, seventh all-time in assist, tenth all-time in total steal. She was an all-conference selection. Now she's a lion here at the University of North Alabama. Allie, we've got so much to jump into with you. First and foremost, what did you order over there? I got a chicken Alfredo. Chicken Alfredo. I'm a big fan of chicken on pizza. It's something that I get made fun of sometimes, but I think it's an underrated topping. I like it. I like it with white sauce most of the time if I'm getting chicken.

There you go. Yeah, and you know, with that chicken Alfredo, especially at Lost Pizza, you know it's good when it's one of those, you have to use a spatula to kind of cut into it because it's got that crusted cheese on it. It's really good, but chicken Alfredo, a great choice here. Thank you. All right, year one here at the University of North Alabama. You've been one of the top scorers for UNA, one of the top playmaking guards in terms of assists and everything. Let's talk about your journey from playing Division II basketball at San Francisco State, growing up in Richmond, California, which you told me, I'm not a geography major.

It's right there in the Bay Area. So what was your journey from California to Florence, Alabama? I mean, it's different. It's very different coming from California all the way to Alabama. The culture is different. Everyone is so nice out here compared to California. It's a common theme on this show. Yeah, I mean, I really like everyone so down to earth. I love my teammates. I mean, that's what really made me choose here was my teammates. So obviously you got the Golden Gate Bridge kind of in your purview where you're from, but then you get here, you got the O'Neill Bridge.

It's beautiful. What was your first impression when you got to Florence, Alabama for the first time? My first impression was that it's super small out here just because I came from San Francisco, so it's a big city. There's a lot of tall buildings everywhere. Yeah, I mean, there, and I just really wanted to focus on basketball. So this coming here really gave me the opportunity to do that. And then you've got an interesting connection to a former UNA player, Charity Gallegos. If you'll remember the Mighty Lion from a season ago, transferred in from the Division II ranks as well.

Well, finished as an all-conference guard a season ago. But tell everybody about your relationship with Charity and kind of how Charity's path here helped you get here as well. Yeah, so Charity was one of the people that I reached out to when I got talked to to come to North Alabama. She basically helped me make my choice in, like, knowing if the coaches were the right choice for me and things like that. She, I played against her in high school, and then we ended up playing in the same conference in D2.

And then she just basically gave me the confidence to be able to move up a level and come here. And she told me I could play in this conference for sure. Yeah, and between yourself and Charity and others, a lot of good basketball out in California. What was it like competing in that conference at the Division II level? I think that the conference that I came from, we were a big school, like, big conference for kids that didn't get recruited because of COVID. That should have been D1, but of all the COVID that happened and things like that, that we went to the Division II level.

So the skills there in the conference that I came from was really good. And then from California to Alabama, what do you miss most about home? My family. Your family. What about food-wise? Food? I would say my family's cooking. I mean, I love coming home to eat their food. All right, and what are they cooking for you in that? My dad can make some great lasagna. Oh, yeah? Yes. I loved his lasagna. And then coming here to Florence, Alabama, other than the people being nice, what's been the most unique thing about Florence?

The most unique thing? I would probably say the basketball community here. Everyone's, like, sports fans. Like, everyone here is sports fans, and I love that. Coming from D2, we didn't really have that many fans. The only people I was looking at in the stands were my two parents. So coming here and seeing all the supporters that we have, it's, like, really fun to, like, just play for everyone that's really interested in seeing our success. And speaking of that support, it had to be special being on the road for six games all the way back from December 1st.

That was the last home game we had played up until this weekend to finally be back home to see the crowd play against EKU and Bellarmine and get a win on Saturday. How did it feel to finally be back home? It felt great. I love being in my house most of the time because I get to relax and things like that. So coming back here and just being able to chill and go back to home-cooked meals because my roommate loves cooking, so, and I love eating her food, so.

[26:10] All right. You lead the team in three-pointers made. You're second on the team in assists. You trail Buki by one assist for the team lead. You got a catcher after this weekend, right? But how would you describe your game to somebody if they asked you, what kind of player are you? I think I just work really hard. I want to be mainly a team player. So my coach wants me to be more of a scoring threat, and that's what I see is it's going to help the team.

So just doing anything in my power to play hard and just work for the team and do whatever they need me to do. And what's it like playing for Candy Whitaker? Obviously, it's a tough style of basketball. It's not for the weak at heart, but talk about how you really fit into this and what it's like playing for her on a daily basis. Yeah, I mean, she just – she believes in me a lot. So she tells me things that I don't want to hear sometimes, but I got to hear it because she's making me a better player.

So just even, like, the night before, she's telling me to shoot the ball when I need to, so. Portal recruitment. Everybody wonders, what's it like when you go into the portal? So, again, you hit the portal. There's all sorts of people in the portal, right? Like, I think I saw today over 10,000 players in the football portal alone. So basketball is probably a little bit crazier than that. But how did your portal path lead you to UNA? So I got in the portal, and I was a little stressed about it.

I was stressed about leaving home, doing anything that's a big change for me, something that I'm not really used to. I put myself on Twitter within a transfer portal that was on Twitter account, and they posted me, and Coach Haley found me, and she said she loved my game. She noticed I was in the same conference as Charity, and then she showed me to Coach Whitaker, and now I'm here. So you mean to tell me she's just scrolling Twitter one night, and you popped up. Yeah.

Crazy how things work. That's a pretty crazy story right there. It is indeed. And to be in your final year now and to be where you are, and obviously North Alabama has really worked out for you. You've really worked out for North Alabama. It's been so special seeing you fit. But to be able to spend your final year here as a redshirt senior, how special is that? It's actually great. I love it. Coming to the D1 level just made me a better player. Being more of a leader, too.

I was a leader at my old school, but being a leader here is a little bit different than how it was before. You have a lot more people looking at you. So, yeah, I mean. You've got two more months of basketball left. What's next for you? I want to play overseas. So going into that, finding an agent, going into the league that Charity went into when she went to the Bay Area to play for a little bit, so going in there. And then afterwards, going into the major that I wanted to do in criminal justice, and I minored in juvenile justice because I want to work with kids.

So after that, finding where life leads me through that and with sports still involved. And Charity has obviously had success overseas as well. So your path, you just kind of keep following Charity, right? Yeah. That's great. All right. Well, Allie, we appreciate you joining us this weekend. North Florida and Jacksonville. What's it going to take to get some road dumps for this team? I think just playing how we are. A lot of energy. We're an energy team. So just keep pushing, keep talking, being loud, having fun.

That's the main thing, just having fun with our team. Allie Alvarado, thank you so much for being our guest. And we'll see you back at home next week in the bank, hopefully talking about two wins. Best of luck. Thank you. Yes, thank you. That's Allie Alvarado. We'll take another timeout. Jazzy Kling is up next. You're on UNA Basketball Night from Lost Pizza Shoals on 93.9 The Score. No matter the size of your team or your fan crew, Lost Pizza's got you covered. We're talking wings, salads, and the one and only Monster Pizza.

Perfect for team dinners, watch parties, or post-game celebrations. Big plays deserve big flavor. And nobody delivers like Lost Pizza. Feed the team, fuel the fans. Go big with Lost Pizza. 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 needleing 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.

[31:40] 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 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 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 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! The fun continues down here at Lost Pizza Shoals for UNA Basketball Night. Benjamin Ray, Mike Ezekiel, and next up we welcome in a senior from Overland Park, Kansas, Jazzy Klinger, second year here at the University of North Alabama.

Had ten points in the game against Eastern Kentucky, seven rebounds in both of the games over the weekend. She's one of the veterans on this team. Jazzy, year two at UNA, where does the time go? How much are you enjoying your senior year so far? Yeah, it definitely flies by. My senior year is, it's turning out to be, I mean, our performance against EKU has definitely like skyrocketed my hopes and kind of showed, I feel like everyone in our program kind of what we're capable of.

I know it wasn't really like the turnout that we wanted, but it's probably the best team basketball we've played all season. Yeah, it's amazing you allude to that game, an EKU team that's kind of the cream of the crop right now in the ASUN and just showed like where this team could go last year. I think of the Central Arkansas game that was a win against a team that was in the ASUN championship game. But to turn that into a win against Bellarmine, to just do everything right, play a similar game and to get another victory, had to feel special.

Right, 100%. And I think that the fact that we had this performance against EKU, kind of you bring up Central Arkansas, EKU's was earlier in the season. So I think we can really capitalize off of that and, you know, keep doing our thing. Last year, everything's new for you, right? So year two, what's kind of the mindset for you? Year two is always going to be better for anyone, no matter how old or young you are, just because you know the ins and outs of the offense and defense and every single thing.

And so that's kind of just being more comfortable, I think. I mean, you mentioned the seven rebounds. Like, I should probably up that a little bit if we're being honest. But just, you know, getting more comfortable in the program and just kind of playing my game. I want to take this back all the way to the summer and just watching you guys during camp and come back together to campus. And it's a lot of seniors. It's you and players like India Howard, Alyssa Clutter, that's been in the program a long time.

And to have a good team in this league, it seems like you've got to have players that have been together a long time. And to have that camaraderie and just how you fit into that, how does it feel to know that you've got that camaraderie and so many returners that have been doing this a while with a common goal? Yeah, I mean, I think that's crucial in any team success is your camaraderie. And that's what I really enjoy about our team is our athletes are really close.

I love everyone on the team and it makes a huge difference when you're out there playing together. Like you start to kind of read each other's minds. You know what plays people are going to make and it makes it a lot easier and more fun. So now that you're one of the veterans, Gabby Jackson, a true freshman, had a big weekend, ASUN freshman of the week as well. What's it like for you to see a young player kind of slowly figure out the game like that?

I mean, it's great for a team to be able to have a freshman to be able to step up, especially right at the beginning of conference play. Like there's no better time. And to be able to have anyone step up in any position like that, we're very grateful for that. And it's really nice to be deep in positions. And she's shown that she can play a lot of spots too. And that's very helpful. Yeah, Gabby's been amazing this week and throughout the season. And speaking of Gabby and yourself, a couple of Midwest players, it must be a Midwest thing to be good at basketball.

[36:50] Well, you never know. But our coaches actually do. It's funny. We have a lot of connections in the Midwest. And I actually have had some old players play for these coaches, Coach A and Coach Whitaker. Yeah, you've got to follow up because Gabby mentioned she's an avid Chiefs fan. I know that Coach Whitaker is also a Chiefs fan. Does that apply to you as well? Absolutely. Yes, I am. It's a Chiefs takeover over at our department, Dr. Looney as well. All right, also for you, year one, where you're also not just figuring out the program, you're figuring out the community.

Now that you're year two, somebody like Allie comes over from California. Do you feel like you're kind of that person that helps people get settled in now? Yeah, I definitely do like and enjoy helping my teammates get settled. I think, like you said, our community is very important with that too. I mean, as Allie mentioned, we have, everyone loves sports. We have courtside people who just love to be there, watch you play, or cheer you on throughout the game individually and as a team. Like, I think that that's very important as well as teammates.

Months of December and early in January, you played six straight road games. You were away from the home barn for a while. And to finally come home last week to see that support you were just talking about, how did it feel to be back in CB&S Bank Arena last week? It's so much better than playing away. I love playing at home, and it did feel like it was a very long time. And I honestly feel like it is a factor in how we played against EKU.

I mean, I feel like you could tell with all of our team how much we miss playing at home and how big of a difference it makes. All right, so you are a senior. You're hopefully graduating in May or this summer, depending on how classes fall out for you. But what's next for you? What do you want to do? So I actually, my end goal is kind of working with like team operations on a higher level team, maybe eventually the pros. But I just, I love, you and I were kind of talking about the day-to-day.

I really like how, it's a little ironic, but I like to be running around and putting out fires everywhere. That's kind of right up my alley. Putting out fires, that's what Coach Petrie and I talked about the other day. That's what assistant coaches do, Dobos do. So if you like being a firefighter like that, that's a field for you. That's right. And just talk about what kind of classes you're going through right now to kind of achieve that goal. What's your major like? What kind of classes are you in this semester?

Yeah, so my major is IDS, interdisciplinary studies. And so I've already kind of, I have half business and half sports management. And so I've already kind of handled all my business classes. So now it's more the sports management route and taking all those. All right, Jazzy, you guys are heading on the road down to Jacksonville, North Florida and Jacksonville this weekend. But first and foremost, you guys get to stay in one city on this road trip, one flight. Do you guys get excited to go on the road together as a team?

Yes, as I mentioned earlier, it is better to be at home. But I mean, Florida, I'm never going to complain about going to Florida. Right, this time of year. Yes. And so that, I mean, I think we are excited. Last year, we all kind of sat on the beach and did our homework one of the days. So, you know, that's always fun to do. So I'm guessing you're more of a beach person? Absolutely. Any opportunity you get. But obviously, a lot of that's going to be a basketball trip, probably 90% of it, I would imagine.

So talk about when you're on the road, what do practices usually look like compared to what they would look like back home? Yeah, they're usually a little lighter just comparatively because you have less time to prepare. You're on the road. You've got to stretch more, you know, kind of get out the jet lag, whatever that might be dealing with. And so it's just kind of making sure you take care of your bodies even more than you usually would. And maybe taking a little bit off the load and definitely, oh, very scout heavy.

Well, Jazzy, a road trip coming up. You guys will be back home next Thursday, as always. It's great catching up with you. Enjoy the rest of this season, and I know we'll probably chat with you again. Perfect. Thank you so much. That's Jazzy Kling. We appreciate her joining us. We'll take a timeout when we come back with Alabama head coach Tony Pujol swings by. This is UNA Basketball Night from Los Pizzas Shoals. No matter the size of your team or your fan crew, Los Pizzas got you covered.

We're talking wings, salads, and the one and only Monster Pizza. Perfect for team dinners, watch parties, or post-game celebrations. Big plays deserve big flavor, and nobody delivers like Los Pizzas. Feed the team, fuel the fans. Go big with Los Pizzas. 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 needleing can help with trigger point and muscular pain.

[41:52] 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. 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 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.

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. Prohibition is over, and the good times will flow once again at the Florence Wine Fest, February 20th and 21st. Friday night sets its own with coops, cocktails, and velvet smooth live music.

Saturday afternoon, taste your way through an unforgettable wine experience. Then Saturday night, the city comes alive with the Florence Wine Fest Free Block Party in Concert, featuring Atlanta's great grand finale band. Free block party tickets and full event details are at FlorenceWineFest.com. Proudly presented by Visit the Shoals, with support from CB&S Bank, Clearview Cancer Institute, and the Hotels of Florence. Here we go. Fun continues down here at Lost Pizza Shoals. Benjamin Ray, Mike Ezekiel, and head basketball coach Tony Poole up next to the UNAMM.

Coming off of a split on the road, a tough road loss to Eastern Kentucky, 88-80. The Lions bounce back with a dominant win over Bellerin, 82-73. But, Coach, obviously you want to win every game you play, but a split on the road is a positive at the end of the day, right? 100%. If you can get a split on the road in this league, you know, you're in pretty good shape. So now, you know, we went out there, and I thought both games we were right in there, and I thought our guys competed really well.

But to walk away from a game and a decisive game, in that matter, with Bellerin, I thought was pretty good. You know, Coach, sometimes the shots don't fall, and sometimes they do, and boy, they fell on Saturday. 11 of 21 behind the arc. Dallas just could not miss, especially just from that corner. I mean, what's it like to see shots just fall like that in a game? Yeah, I was very, you know, obviously Dallas Howell has kind of made a name for himself for, you know, shooting and extending defenses, you know, from a half-court standpoint.

And to see him go 2 of 3 in the first half, but then 6 for 6 in the second was truly impressive. And the best part about it was the way his teammates just kept going to him, right? His teammates just kept trying to find him. I thought Cannon did a great job. Cortez did a great job in making sure that, you know, he got looks. All his teammates were constantly looking for him, especially when you have a hot line like that. It was really good to see. And speaking of Dallas, Coach, I was going to talk about him.

Florida Gulf Coast, he went 0 of 9 from 3. Started A-some play 1 of 14. Probably felt like his hands were in ice cubes every time he touched the basketball. Goes up to Kentucky, 3 of 9 against EKU. That's great. And then 8 of 9 from 3 against Bellarmine. He was absolutely on fire. But I was in the gym last Monday before you guys left. Grant Wakefield and I were packing up, getting ready to come over here. And your assistants were in there working with Dallas. Coach Steele was in there getting shots up with him.

And kind of two things, Coach. How much work do these guys put in on their own? And what about the investment from your staff to just continue to pour into dudes like that? Yeah, and that's why you have to have good people in your organization. They understand that they're not there just to continue to grow these young men as basketball players, but as human beings as well. And right now I can tell you that I'm sure Dallas was going through some things. You know, knowing him, he's probably kicking himself for not hitting shots early on.

[47:20] But one thing I can tell you about Dallas Howell, he's a grown man. And he's one that will wake up every day and put in the work because he trusts in the process that he's built over the years. And the fact that we have staff members that believe in him, players that believe in him, it's easy for him to come back and have a game like he did the other night. And you talk about a six-year senior. It's good to have somebody like that when you've got a couple of true freshmen that you brought here tonight, by the way, that we're going to talk to soon.

Braylon Patton had 13 points in that game on Thursday. And then to see what Cortez did on Saturday, 10 points, seven assists, moving the ball very well. And these two, they're blooming like carnations right now. No, 100%. And we have a lot of trust in these guys. Like anything else with freshmen, it's not, to me, it's not the speed of the game or the physicality of the game. It's their focus, right? It's the way that they need to focus in every game because every game has a life of its own.

But also at this level, unlike in high school where, you know, there's going to be games where in high school, you're going to go into the game knowing that you can kind of sleepwalk through the game. You're still going to win by 20. At this level, that doesn't happen, especially in league play. Everybody's got to bring it every day because if not, you know, it's going to, you know, we tell them all the time, if we have a mental lapse, boom, it's a 10-0 run and the game's over.

And one of the things that our freshmen need to understand is that they've got to bring that every day. And these guys have done that. These guys have done that. They've got leadership that has shown them how to do it. And then they've embraced it and continue to grow every single day in the game. From the freshmen making their marks early on an ASOM play to a dude coach who a lot of people felt like could be the player of the year in Cornelius Williams. And obviously the first three games, a little tough for him.

He missed the Florida Gulf Coast game, still working his way back against Eastern Kentucky, but looked like his dominant self against Bellarmine. 21 points or 20 points, 15 rebounds. How good was it to get Neal going? Oh my gosh, tremendous, right? Because Neal's such a presence in the interior for us, right? And he affects winning by the fact that he can rebound the basketball and just score at a high level. His percentages have been tremendous around the rim. But where he helps us tremendously is not only on the defensive end, but the way that he rebounds on both sides of the ball.

When we didn't have him against Florida Gulf Coast, I think it was one of the games that we've lost in the rebounding battle. You know, when you've got a guy that's the leading rebounder in the league and he's not with you, especially for us, right? Efficiency for us is taking care of the basketball and second chance opportunities on the offensive end. And he's a big part of that. So it's something that we need every single time we come out. Speaking of efficiency, let's talk about Cannon.

Jefferson kind of flew under the radar with the other performances we had. But 11 assists in those two games, only three turnovers. You really got to like seeing that from your point guard. 100%. And, you know, we sat down a couple of times. Cannon and I have had numerous conversations about how he can, you know, how can he best affect the game. You know, a lot of people, you know, he's known for the way he can score around the rim and, you know, how he can extend defenses with his three-point shot.

But he need, I challenged him to be more of a facilitator. And, man, he's taking the challenge on it. I remember having breakfast with him. I'll never forget it. He had scrambled eggs. I had a croissant. And we were just going back and forth about what are the things that we can do moving forward to just make him a more complete point guard. And one of the areas that I told him and challenged him on is I needed you to be more of a facilitator. And he has done that.

He's embraced it. This last game, I think he had six assists, two turnovers. I've told him three to one has got to be his ratio. And, obviously, he's doing that. You talk to you a lot over the years, Coach, about not getting too high after wins and not getting too low after losses. And, obviously, the start to A-some play did not go how we wanted, losing three straight. But how did this team kind of stay together and stay the path? I mean, the thing is, it's so cliche, but it's so true, right?

It's one day at a time. Okay? Again, every practice has a life of its own, and we have to continue to grow. And that's what we talk to our team about anyways. It's the growth of our team. Okay? Championships are not won in January. Championships are won in March. So, our thing is, we have to grow our team to play for championships. And, right now, we know that there's enough in the room to win a championship. So, now, our thing is, we've got to make sure that the team is heading in the right direction.

Okay? Today, I told him, man, we're not even going backwards to increase momentum. We are going forward, period. So, whatever has, in the past, hurt this team, we want to dispose of that. And whatever has helped our team win, we want to continue to carry that with us. And that's the mindset of these guys. It's one day at a time, and let's go out and compete. Coach, this feels like a good time to kind of close the book on last week a little bit. And last week on the show, we talked about what it's like as a coaching staff preparing for the contrasting styles of EKU and then turning around and preparing for Bellarmine.

Now that you're past that and kind of looking back on it, how did that process go for you and your coaching staff? Yeah, I mean, what we did was we obviously lost two games at home, which is not the way you want to start the season. But then we knew going in there, we were going to have a tough challenge in EKU. And that's the beauty of our league. The beauty of our league is every time, like this weekend coming up, you've got two contrasting styles of play, right?

[52:43] EKU and Bellarmine, two contrasting styles of play. You've got a team that wants to pressure you, play up and down. You know, quick shot clock. You've got another team that wants to run the clock down to two, right? Looking for the mouse in the house that's not paying attention, that gets bored, that doesn't do the right things defensively so they can just score on you. So I thought the challenge was going to be there for our guys. So that's where we focused all our thoughts in was how are we going to prepare our guys to play with those two contrasting styles.

And I thought our guys did a tremendous job doing it. Speaking of contrasting styles, North Florida and Jacksonville, the opponents this weekend, Coach. But before we dive into them, this league through four games, you know, we've talked about parity in the league. When we first got in, it was kind of Lipscomb and Liberty, right? And then North Florida kind of crept up there one year, but it was always Lipscomb and Liberty. It felt like battling it out. It feels like the last two, three years, the league's opened up.

But I don't feel like it's ever been like this where one through 12, it's, geez, who's going to win this thing? And that's, okay, for example, you know, everybody leading into the league, everybody, Lipscomb's the favorite, right? Well, Lipscomb goes to Stetson and gets beat by 20. I mean, that's the beauty of this league, right, is you have to bring it every day. You have to be prepared and ready to go because at any moment, any team can beat you. Last year, I remember Bellarmine was 0-12, and Austin Peay was in the top five, top four teams in our league.

They went over there and got beat by 40 late in the season. So I'm just telling you, this league is so wide open this year. Anybody can take it. That's why it's very important for us to understand that this is going to be a day-by-day thing. And like I said earlier, championships are won in March, not in January. Yeah, and we're looking at a North Florida team that's hungry to get a win. They're the only one without an ASUN win so far. So you've got to know you're getting a really motivated team on Thursday.

100%. But, guys, look at their scores and their four losses in the league. It's been three possessions or less. I mean, it's going to be – our guys need to understand, again, it doesn't matter what the record is. It really doesn't. What matters is, are you ready and prepared to win the game? And for us right now, that's our focus is to make sure our guys are prepared to play North Florida. So North Florida, new coach, but not a lot's changed, right? Like still the high-octane offense. Jacksonville, we know it's going to be a 10-round boxing match, right?

I mean, what's the mental preparation like for this? Well, the good thing is that you're going up against a team that – in North Florida that's going to run about 150 sets, right? So you're going to have to prepare. It gives us more time to prep for them. And then, obviously, you know, not even thinking about Jacksonville, but you already know what type of game that's going to be. But right now, what's helping us right now is the fact that we're – hopefully our guys now have kind of refocused.

And it looks like we feel like we've rightened the ship. So now it's time to now lock in on North Florida. Excuse me. Lock in on North – lock in on North Florida and just get ready for them. I think about that home stretch last year. Especially Jacksonville comes to mind right away. That was one of the better crowds. And I'm talking the regular season that we have had. How important is it to have a big home crowd now that the students are back in session? Yeah, I think both the teams, right, men and women, for us, I think it's very important that the student body understands that they bring so much energy to the building.

Our student athletes, our students bring so much energy. And for us, for our players at least, I know it's motivation. For our guys, it's hard when you see people commit like that, our fans, right, folks that are here consistently, that follow our team. We had a great group of folks that followed us to Kentucky. Rowdy group. Right? A very rowdy group. And for us, whenever we see that, you know, it's easy for us to be motivated to play. It's easy for us to, you know, double down on our discipline and our preparation.

Because you have – you don't want to let these folks down who are coming out and just supporting the heck out of you. Thursday night, 6 o'clock. It's a whiteout Saturday gold rush game. It's also the baby race game. My son Asher, he's going to be participating in that. He's not crawling yet. But we've got about four days to get him ready. So we're going through some two-day training right now. But, Coach, I've got to ask you a question. Okay. I've heard a rumor that you make a really good Cuban sandwich.

Is that true? Okay. First of all, I need to know who your sources are. Well, I just got to know, what goes into a good Cuban sandwich? Well, I can tell you this. The secret is the bread. The bread. Well, our friends here, Chuck here at Lost Pizza, they're debuting a new sandwich. It drops tomorrow. And we're getting to taste it right here today live. This is the full court press, a Cuban sandwich. And, Coach, you break it down. I believe you were the inspiration for this.

Okay. Well, the Cuban sandwich, obviously, it's panini style here, but it'll have ham. It'll have a little pork in it. It'll have Swiss cheese, mustard, and the most important ingredient, it's got to have a pickle. Okay? And, I mean, it is, first of all, in the Cuban community, this is the go-to at lunch. It's the go-to. Now, after this, you're going to need a nap. Okay? Well, hey, let's skip the first official bites. Here we go. Cheers. Here it is. The full court press, you can get it starting tomorrow here at Lost Pizza Shoals.

[58:09] Here's the first bite from Coach Pujol. Oh, wow. That's really good. That's really good. Mercy. Wow. Fantastic. That smoke flavor. I really like it. I've always wanted to do a live eating segment, so this checked off a lot of boxes. This is phenomenal right here. That is really good. Added, I mean, another great option here, and the chips here are phenomenal as well. The full court press will be available starting tomorrow here at Lost Pizza Shoals. We're going to debut it right here, and it is delicious.

It's really good. Does that meet your approval right there? 100%. Great job. I'm taking one home. Great job. Well, hey, Coach, this weekend, I know we want a big turnout, but best of luck. And again, call to action. We want everybody there to pack the bank. Yeah, no doubt. And listen, again, this is something that our guys, again, have, I think, earned. But we want to let everybody know that supports this program how appreciative we are that not only do they support us here at home, they go on the road.

The students, when they come out, they just, again, the energy that's brought into the building is amazing. So, again, to everyone, thank you so much. We're very grateful that you all support the Lions. So, Roy Lions, we hope to see it right now. Wow, I'm going to try to scarf this down. Me too. Three and a half minute timeout. Thank you so much. Thank you, Coach. Hey, we got Cortez, Graham, Braylon, Patton in the house next. We got 30 more minutes to go. We'll be back after this.

This is UNA Basketball Night from Lost Pizza Shoals on 93.9 The Score. No matter the size of your team or your fan crew, Lost Pizza's got you covered. We're talking wings, salads, and the one and only Monster Pizza. Perfect for team dinners, watch parties, or post-game celebrations. Big plays deserve big flavor, and nobody delivers like Lost Pizza. Feed the team, feel the fans. Go big with Lost Pizza. 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 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 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 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 Lions. 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. Man, that Cuban sandwich was phenomenal.

[1:03:34] Not enough time to eat it. Come get it starting tomorrow here at Lost Pizza Shoals in historic downtown Florence. Benjamin Ray and Mike Ezekiel back with you here on UNA Basketball Night. We've got the true freshman guard, the phenom from Nashville, Tennessee. Hillsboro High School his first year at North Alabama. Cortez Graham stops by. Cortez, we appreciate you coming by. Hard-hitting question out of the gate. I saw you chowing down over there. What was the order tonight? I had the barbecue nacho. Barbecue nachos. Yeah, but you've got to get extra barbecue sauce with your chicken.

Pretty good choice over there? Yeah, it was. I haven't ever gone that way. We'll have to try that sometime. I mean, the menu just keeps expanding over here. I feel like every time we get a meal, I get something different. Today I came in wondering, what do I want? Because I don't know if I want the beekeeper today because I always get it. Next week, full-court press for sure. I mean, that was amazing. Thanks to Chuck and everybody that organized that. That was awesome. Cortez, year one for you here at the University of North Alabama.

Just how has your freshman year been going? Do you feel to this point? It was really kind of – at first it was kind of like an up-and-down experience, but the guys always – they just always told me to keep my head up through it all, even through the good or the bad games or the games I might not play. They always just told me to stay ready and just my time was going to come and just be ready. You had a very successful high school career, the Mr. Basketball Awards and all the things that you did at the high school level.

You played a lot of positions, just did whatever the team needed you to do. And now as a freshman kind of has to do a little bit of the same, play a lot of different areas. But adjusting from high school to college, what has that been like for you in these first 15 games of your career? At first I thought it was pretty much the pace of it. But as I started playing more, I kind of got more comfortable with it. So it was kind of like just playing off instincts.

That's kind of what it was last game, just getting others involved. TP always told me then, like when I first got there, I asked him, like, what type of player do he think on you? He was like, you can score the ball, but your main thing is to get others involved and just play off of it. And that came alive last game. It certainly did. Ten points, seven assists, five rebounds. At what point did you feel like, man, I'm in a groove? Really, it really wasn't so much me.

It was really when D-Hal got high, it was kind of like a thing. Like we were just trying to get it to him. So I think like three or four of my assists was from him. So it was just really having fun with him, especially knowing, like being in the gym with him some time, seeing how much work he was putting in. And he had a few off games. Like he had a game where he went 0 for 9, 0 for 10 from the three. But I just kept telling him, like, I've seen the words.

I'm always going to ride with you and trust you. So I got to follow up with that. Seven assists, when a guy's hot like that, right, and you make the pass that he scores off of, that's got to feel good. But compare that feeling to your highlight dunk. I mean, I imagine that the dunk's a little better, but is the assist kind of up there as well? Yeah, especially in a game like that where we haven't really got a win yet and we're just chipping away at it.

And like I said, he's been struggling. So for him to be the one to finally get us over that push with his shot making, it was fun. The way that you performed individually in that game on Saturday, the way the team performed in that game on Saturday, has that been your favorite game so far as a true freshman? Yes, it has. That was the funnest game. And what else was fun about it? I mean, not just on the court, but the whole vibe of it all.

Like, how did it feel just seeing everybody eat a little bit? Man, it was really good, especially the people who even wasn't in the game like that. Like, it was some guys who, like Dante and Kev, they usually play a lot in minutes. I didn't know until after the game, but as me and Bray was playing, I think they were about to get ready to make a sub to get one of us out. And they were both like, nah, leave it me in. They're already in their flow.

And then really just looking behind the bench, you know, Will Soucy, who was here last year, he reaches out to me a lot. So just seeing him, him being there, talking to me, telling him how proud of me he is, it was just a big moment. Speaking of a guy like Will Soucy, you're being recruited last year, and you're also watching that historic run that they went on, the big crowds inside of CBNS Bank Arena. How much did that play in your decision to come to North Alabama?

It played a lot of my decisions, especially in the last game, them losing at Lipscomb. And that's kind of always been a school. It's always been right there, and they never really recruited me like this. So it's really kind of our mission just for us to get back to the A-Sun championship and get one. And for you to be pretty close to home from Nashville, what's it like seeing that your family can come, watch you play, and be kind of close to Florence? Yeah, it means a lot.

It really means a lot still being able to get back into family. And for them to still be there, it kind of makes it kind of like take the nerves away because, you know, I've always played with family there. So them being at the game still and I'm on a whole higher level, it means a lot. Going from high school to college, what was the biggest adjustment? Really just getting used to being around new players because this is like my first time in my life I went somewhere and it was like I knew nobody on the team.

So really just building relationships with new people. But when I got better relationships with people, everything else just came easy. There's a lot of older guys on this roster. You've got a six-year senior like Dallas Howell. He's played a lot of basketball. You've got some other guys that are seniors and juniors. Two true freshmen, you and the guy we're going to talk to later, Braylon Patton. What's it like having Braylon? And you guys are both kind of going through the same thing right now, first year of college basketball.

[1:08:46] It's kind of like it's a real good relationship because you're kind of like with somebody and we live with each other. So it's kind of like you're with somebody who's going through the same thing as you. So like we kind of like feed off each other like he's having a good game. I'm super proud of him. He'll reach out to me telling me he's super proud of me after a game or keep my head up or anything like that. So you see a guy like Will Soucy who got the extra year, feels like he was here forever.

You see a guy like Dallas Howell who you just talked about in the long runs that they've had. What kind of impact have they had on you and seeing guys that have been here in the way that this town, this community has fallen in love with them? It really means a lot because they're all whatever question I got like how he's seen everything. Like anything I talk about to him, he's been through it. Or he's seen even talking to Will Soucy sometimes. Like I was playing situations with him.

He was like he's been through the same thing. He was like it's just a trust thing. Just keep getting through the process. And not just those guys, but even like your family growing up. I mean you had relatives that were at high level college. You play in Vanderbilt, UCLA. You've got people that have just played all over in college basketball and college athletics. What's it like coming from a collegiate athletic type family where you have a lot of people that you can kind of lean on and talk to as mentors?

That's a real good feeling, especially coming in as a freshman because a lot of them, they came in to Division I as freshman too. So they all just, they kind of telling me to just keep my head up and just keep being me, just keep being who I am. Don't try and change who I am. Everything, it just takes time with everything, especially coming in as a young player. Talk about some of that family and basketball connections because we learned about one at Mississippi State. They're the season opener this year.

He's been talking to me about these moments since I was probably like seventh grade. So it's just been with him, he kind of like everything that's happening, he kind of expected it already to happen. So he reaches out to me on a normal, just giving me tips. And let's talk about that Mississippi State game. I believe that was kind of your first taste of college basketball. What was it like to be on that SEC type stage for your very first college game? It was an unreal moment, especially because that was a big dream as a kid just to play on the SEC floor.

So being out there and actually competing on a level and to be in the game with him. You know, we were in the game. I feel like a game we probably could have won. It was just a surreal moment. The last couple of years, UNA's kind of been dunked city. Cornelius Williams, I always talk about the big boy slams. Tay Fields had one of the all-time great dunks against Jacksonville. It was Eastern Kentucky last year. Yes. Kind of just took off out of nowhere. He had a big one against Jacksonville as well in the postseason run last year.

But you had one of the most powerful dunks I've ever seen inside of the bank. We settled. It was UT Southern. You had it at the top of the key. I think I was just mid-sentence and all of a sudden one move, one step. It's like you were dunking from the free throw line almost. Take us through that dunk. Is that one of your most memorable dunks in your career? Probably. I had one in high school where I went through the legs. That was probably my most memorable dunk.

But this one probably hit different because it was like my first one in college. And it wasn't a fast break dunk. So, like, it was a big moment. So not to put pressure on you, but Andrew's still back there. I think he's here tonight. I don't know he was earlier. I can't see because of the column. Yeah, he's back there with his son. He told me that you should be getting one of those per game. So is that something we can start seeing more of? Yeah, he make it tough on him.

He likes for everything to be off a steal or some type of deflection. So he liked the fast break dunk. I want to ask you this because you played a lot of positions in high school. We've seen you bring the ball up. We've seen you kind of play the wing. I'm sure you could also, you know, play the paint if you needed to as well. What's kind of your favorite role to have? Obviously, whatever the team needs, but what's your personal favorite when you get called to do something?

My personal probably would be the one position, like being able to, especially being able to control who gets the ball or build it and just distribute with others. Like what I said with DeHal, like being able to be that person and get them the ball and keep getting them open and building that trust with all the guys, it just means a lot. Well, Cortez, the future is very bright for you. We can't wait to watch you continue to grow up inside of the bank. How excited are you to be back home?

First time for you guys to be at home in front of the students since what? November. November. We probably didn't have a lot of students for that Thanksgiving break game. Hopefully you get a taste of what you saw last year. How excited are you to be back home this weekend? I'm super excited, especially I know their support. Even with the students who sit behind the bench, I know their support with us. Even watching the games last year, seeing how excited it was when it got to conference play, like how everybody came together and just supported each other.

Do you know what will happen if you get one of those dunks with all the students in the house? They're going to go crazy. We don't want to put the expectations too high, but we would love to see that this weekend. I'm a good one. Cortez Graham, the future of UNA basketball, true freshmen stand out. We appreciate you stopping by. Thank y'all. Thank y'all. We'll take another time out. Braylon Patton's up next. This is UNA basketball night from Ross Pizza Shoals. No matter the size of your team or your fan crew, Ross Pizza's got you covered.

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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.

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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. Prohibition is over. And the good times will flow once again at the Florence Wine Fest, February 20th and 21st. Friday night sets its own with coops, cocktails, and velvet smooth live music.

Saturday afternoon, taste your way through an unforgettable wine experience. Then Saturday night, the city comes alive with the Florence Wine Fest Free Block Party in Concert, featuring Atlanta's great grand finale band. Free block party tickets and full event details are at FlorenceWineFest.com. Proudly presented by Visit the Shoals, with support from CB&S Bank, Clearview Cancer Institute, and the Hotels of Florence. The time is flying, and it's a fun time down here at Lost Pizza Shoals in historic downtown. Florence Benjamin Ray, Mike Ezekiel. Before I introduce our next guest, this table to our right, you can't see him on camera, the boys in the back, the youngsters in the office.

We want to shout out all of them for coming out, especially Taylor Clemons right here in the peppermint outfit you're talking about. She's got the Florence Water Department Employee of the Month, so shout out to Taylor Clemons right there. She's one of our student workers as well. Chief of the students. Chief of the students. Next up, we're chatting with true freshman Braylon Patton, a point guard from Birmingham, Alabama. He comes to UNA from Hueytown High School. He's in year number one. He had a big weekend.

20 minutes played against Eastern Kentucky. Career high, 13 points. Followed that with 23 minutes against Bellarmine in the win for North Alabama. He and Cortez really sparked the Lions. Barry Lee, man, we appreciate you joining us. You're number one at UNA. How do you feel like it's been going for you to this point? First of all, I appreciate y'all for having me. It's been going smooth. It's been going smooth. Nothing I didn't expect. Coming in, I knew, like, going anywhere new, like, you just feel like you got to prove yourself.

And that's what it's been about. But it was, it got easier. Well, with the people around me, you know, coaches, players, like, building a connection helped, like, help me go through a lot coming here. And that's just something you got to be thankful for, actually. You just got to be grateful and thankful for it all, for real. Well, I'll tell you one thing. This community here in the Shoals is thankful that you decided to come here from Hueytown. And you talked about making that impression. And let's talk about your debut.

Mississippi State, back in November, your first taste of college basketball on a big-time stage. You go score at 11 points, most by a freshman since Jakari Lane did that in 2022. And just knowing that you were able to make that impact, and you continue to do that with the game you had at EKU. It's got to feel good to know that you got that first taste, and you're having a great freshman year. Yeah, yeah. That's, it's just confidence. Stacking good days. That's just stacking good days. Learning from the difficult days.

[1:19:29] And, you know, just keeping on pushing and, you know, growing. Let's talk about your recruitment to North Alabama from Birmingham, Alabama, Hueytown High School. What was the path that led you to North Alabama? It was, for me, from my perspective, it was the summer. That summer, my senior summer, I found out that they was coming to the games, the summer league games. And they were showing me attention. But it wasn't until after that they offered my coach, my high school coach, Coach Daniels. He told me that they've been looking, they've been paying attention way before, way before.

And that's just something, like, I took, I took note of. Just them, them showing that attention, that, believe, that confidence that I could come here and make a difference. It just meant a lot to me. You know, there's been a lot of good basketball to come out of Birmingham and Hueytown specifically. Not only you, but I go all the way back to a UNA Athletic Hall of Famer that was on the basketball team. Albert Owens. A lot of good basketball out of Hueytown. Just talk about what it was like playing there and being from Birmingham and some good basketball.

Honestly, I came from Nevada to come to Hueytown and play with my cousin, Corey. Corey Stevenson, he's playing at FIU right now. Growing up, playing, like, it wasn't even, it wasn't even, like, the school, just playing basketball, like, practicing the school. It was outside. A lot of the times I spent with him outside, me, my brother, him, his friends from just around the city. Like, that built a lot of character, you know, skill, toughness. A lot of that just made me who I am today. So, as you're being recruited by UNA, the offer comes in.

You also get to watch UNA a season ago make that historic run. And we asked the same thing to Cortez. I want to ask you this. What was it like for you to watch that group, watch them compete, watch the crowds inside of CBNS Bank Arena? Did it excite you knowing, like, hey, I'm walking into a championship caliber program? Yeah, yeah, for sure. I know, I know my coach talked to me a lot about Jacquard. And it wasn't, it wasn't, I know most people might see it as, like, pressure.

But it wasn't pressure. It was just, like, it's a legacy, you know, a legacy. Like, I'm able to uphold, you know, and, you know, build for somebody who might come out under me, you know. And just being here, it just showed me, like, what that legacy was about. Like, what it was, what it really, what was put into the team, the organization as a whole. Yeah, it was great to hear Cortez talk about getting to see a guy like Will Soucy, who he didn't necessarily play with, but a guy that has reached out to him before, that's been in this program a long time.

You got Dallas Howell, that's a six-year senior. You see a lot of these guys that have just stayed with this program, stayed with this coaching staff, really built something special here. That's going to mean a lot to you to know that there's so much commitment from these guys to just stay and build and to be part of this program. I know Soucy, he came to the game, the last game. And even during the summer, we had guys come in from all over the country. You know, I know one of them came from overseas.

He's playing right now. And just to see them come back, like, it just shows, like, the type of brotherhood within the entire organization. Like, to see them, you know, just be happy to be here, it's just like, it means a lot. It means a lot, for sure. What's it like kind of sharing this first year of college basketball with a guy like Cortez, knowing that you've got a teammate there, that I think you said you guys are roommates, to kind of go through those ups and downs of your freshman campaign together?

It's like a, it's a relationship that's understood without words. Like, practices, games, like, you just know, like, we're both trying to prove ourselves and just make our name, like, just show that we're meant to be here, we're able to play at this level. And it's like, to see each other, like, thrive, it's just motivation, motivation to see the next person do what, you know what I'm saying, they love doing. What's your goal for your freshman year? What do you hope to accomplish? And then, as a team, and for this program, what do you hope to be part of and accomplish as you go throughout the rest of the season?

[1:24:40] Honestly, I want a ring. I want a ring. And I feel like that's, that's, that's, that's what we all want. And I feel like that's, that's the connection. That's the, that's the drive. That's what drives us every day, you know what I'm saying? We just trying to get that jury, for real, honestly. Trying to get that ring, and home opener this year, night of champions, the guys from last year's team got to get their rings, and what was your impression of the ring, how much motivation did that give you, what was it like for you to see them celebrated that night?

Watching them enjoy that moment, it was just like, it just made me want to be a part of it, like, a part of it for, like, I just, I was thinking in my head, like, I want to, I want to have an impact on, on, on something, in something like that, personally, like, there's just, that's a lot. And that's something I've never, I personally never got to experience, and it's, it'd be, it'd be, it'd mean a lot to me to experience that here. It'd be a lot to me to experience that here, especially with the people around me, my teammates.

You know what I'm saying, yeah. Yeah, and I want to talk about all the lessons you learned from that first game against Mississippi State, all the way up to now in conference play. What have you learned about yourself, your game, as you've went through these first 15 games of your college career? I learned that confidence, confidence is, it means a lot, and focus. I know, TV tell me, every day, focus, focus, focus, even Coach Steele, you know. But I feel like, for me, it was, it was my confidence, just knowing that, knowing, not questioning myself, not questioning my ability, just knowing and being confident in who I am on and off the court, it just shows, I just got to keep showing that.

We had Kevin Dukovicic on the show last week, he's a sophomore guard, and I asked him the question, when you guys are on the road, you know, who's kind of the life of the party? Who kind of keeps guys laughing? And he mentioned you as a guy. Are you someone that's kind of a jokestra of the team? Yeah, I throw my jokes in, I throw my little one too. But it's always, it's always a different person. You know, you got my guy KB, actually like he- Kedar Bode.

Yep. Yep. Kedar, he just, you just see a lot of joy in him. Even Kev. Kev is, he's the loudest one in practice, like, he's just, you know what I'm saying? D-Tate, it's just everybody, everybody, you know what I'm saying? It just, it just bring, it just bring different personalities to the table and it just, it just make it a family, you know what I'm saying? So, you can be honest here. Do you agree with Kevin that you're the funniest on the team? Yeah, I got, I'm going to take that one.

I'm going to take that one. By far, by far, no question. Well, Braylon, man, we've enjoyed chatting with you. It's been great watching you inside of the bank and all season long. We know you're going to have a great career at UNA. I got to check off a long-term broadcast goal tonight of eating on air. You've never had a Cuban sandwich, right? Would you like to try a bite of this sandwich and give everybody your impression and rating? And no matter what, it's got to be good.

So, anyway, that's the one I, yeah, try that one right there. Let's do it. Coach Pujol's a big believer in these Cuban sandwiches. I, I, I've got to be honest, I haven't had a lot of Cuban sandwiches in my life, but I really enjoyed mine. Here we go. First bite, first impression, Brunaro, what it's got to be good. Here we go. That's good crunch right there on air. That sound. That's a good sandwich, isn't it? That's it right there. Thumbs up. He is speechless. You, you, you can, you can finish that right there.

It's an unbelievable sandwich. Braylon, man, you can take that, man. Enjoy the sandwich. That is great stuff right there. Hey, best of luck this week. We can't wait to see you roll inside the bank. Appreciate you, appreciate you. He's got a mouthful of sandwich there. We appreciate Braylon Patton joining us. Thanks to everybody for coming out tonight. We'll be back with you next week. Thanks to Jazzy Allen, Coach Petrie on the women's side. Thanks to Cortez, Braylon here, and of course, Coach Poole. Thank you to Chuck for hosting us.

And thank you for everybody to keep coming out, especially the boys in the back over here at the table. Thank you all very much for coming. So for everybody over here, we're back full staff. Ty's back from the national championship game. He worked last week. Ty over here, Grant Eli Bray, and he's back from his anniversary trip. We appreciate everybody coming out. For Mike, for Blair back at the station, I'm Benjamin Ray saying roar lions. You've been listening to UNA Basketball Night at Lost Pizza Company featuring Coach Candy Whittaker and Coach Tony Poole.

UNA 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. We'll see you next time.