2020–21 North Alabama Lions men's basketball team
{{short description|American college basketball season}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=August 2023}}
{{Infobox NCAA team season
|mode=Basketball
|year=2020–21
|team=North Alabama Lions
|image=North Alabama Lions wordmark.svg
|image_size= 250
|conference=Atlantic Sun Conference
|division=
|short_conf=ASUN
|CoachRank=
|APRank=
|record=13–11
|conf_record=7–8
|head_coach=Tony Pujol
|hc_year=3rd
|asst_coach1=Ahmad Smith
|asst_coach2=Willie Watson
|asst_coach3=Tom Berryman
|stadium=Flowers Hall
|champion=
|bowl=
|bowl_result=
}}
{{2020–21 Atlantic Sun men's basketball standings}}
The 2020–21 North Alabama Lions men's basketball team represented the University of North Alabama in the 2020–21 NCAA Division I men's basketball season. The Lions, led by third-year head coach Tony Pujol, played their home games at Flowers Hall in Florence, Alabama, as members of the Atlantic Sun Conference (ASUN).
This season marked North Alabama's third of a four-year transition period from Division II to Division I. As a result, the Lions are not eligible for NCAA postseason play, but could participate in the ASUN tournament. They were also eligible to play in the CBI tournament, but not invited. They finished the season 13-11, 7-8 in ASUN Play to finish in 5th place. They defeated North Florida and Florida Gulf Coast to advance to the championship game of the ASUN tournament where they lost to Liberty.
Previous season
The Lions finished the 2019–20 season 13–17, 8–8 in ASUN play, to finish in fifth place in the conference. They lost in the quarterfinals of the ASUN tournament to Stetson.{{Cite news|url=https://roarlions.com/news/2020/3/3/mens-basketball-lions-come-up-short-in-asun-quarterfinals.aspx|title=LIONS COME UP SHORT IN ASUN QUARTERFINALS|work=University of North Alabama Athletics|date=March 3, 2020|accessdate=November 27, 2020|language=en}}
Roster
{{CBB roster/Header|year=2020|team=North Alabama Lions|teamcolors=y|high_school=yes}}
{{CBB roster/Player|first=Will|last=Soucie|num=0|pos=G|ft=6|in=5|lbs=200|class=fr|rs=|home=Califon, New Jersey|high_school=Gill St. Bernard's School}}
{{CBB roster/Player|first=Detalian|last=Brown|num=1|pos=G|ft=6|in=3|lbs=195|class=fr|rs=|home=Chicago, Illinois|high_school=Combine Academy Prep}}
{{CBB roster/Player|first=Jonathan|last=Breeland, Jr.|num=2|pos=G|ft=6|in=3|lbs=193|class=so|rs=|home=Columbia, South Carolina|high_school=Neosho County CC}}
{{CBB roster/Player|first=Jamari|last=Blackmon|num=3|pos=G|ft=6|in=1|lbs=205|class=jr|rs=|home=Hoover, Alabama|high_school=Hoover High School}}
{{CBB roster/Player|first=Isaac|last=Chatman|num=4|pos=F|ft=6|in=6|lbs=200|class=jr|rs=|home=Cordova, Alabama|high_school=Northeast Mississippi CC}}
{{CBB roster/Player|first=Mervin|last=James|num=5|pos=F|ft=6|in=7|lbs=215|class=so|rs=|home=St. Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands|high_school=Pebblebrook High School}}
{{CBB roster/Player|first=Sawyer|last=Wright|num=10|pos=C|ft=6|in=8|lbs=210|class=fr|rs=|home=Tuscumbia, Alabama|high_school=Deshler High School}}
{{CBB roster/Player|first=C.J.|last=Brim|num=11|pos=G|ft=5|in=9|lbs=170|class=sr|rs=|home=Tupelo, Mississippi|high_school=Pearl River Community College}}
{{CBB roster/Player|first=James|last=Anderson, II|num=13|pos=F|ft=6|in=5|lbs=200|class=sr|rs=|home=Roswell, Georgia|high_school=Cuyahoga Community College}}
{{CBB roster/Player|first=Payton|last=Youngblood|num=14|pos=F|ft=6|in=5|lbs=200|class=sr|rs=y|home=Birmingham, Alabama|high_school=Snead State Community College}}
{{CBB roster/Player|first=Coleman|last=Barranco|num=15|pos=G|ft=5|in=9|lbs=150|class=fr|rs=|home=Birmingham, Alabama|high_school=Vestavia Hills High School}}
{{CBB roster/Player|first=Emanuel|last=Littles|num=21|pos=F|ft=6|in=7|lbs=215|class=jr|rs=|home=Lanett, Alabama|high_school=Lanett High School}}
{{CBB roster/Player|first=Austin|last=Meloche|num=22|pos=G|ft=6|in=1|lbs=180|class=so|rs=|home=Palm Harbor, Florida|high_school=Calvary Christian High School}}
{{CBB roster/Player|first=Aleksa|last=Matic|num=24|pos=G|ft=6|in=4|lbs=210|class=jr|rs=|home=Belgrade, Serbia|high_school=Sportksa Gimnazija}}
{{CBB roster/Player|first=Dallas|last=Howell|num=34|pos=F|ft=6|in=7|lbs=210|class=fr|rs=|home=Coffee Springs, Alabama|high_school=Enterprise High School}}
{{CBB roster/Footer
|head_coach=
- Tony Pujol ({{college|Sterling (KS)}})
|asst_coach=
- Ahmad Smith ({{college|Appalachian State}})
- Willie Watson ({{college|Alabama}})
- Tom Barryman ({{college|Alabama}})
|roster_url=https://roarlions.com/sports/mens-basketball/roster/2020-21
|accessdate=November 27, 2020
}}
Schedule and results
{{CBB schedule start|attend=yes}}
|-
!colspan=12 style={{CollegePrimaryStyle|North Alabama Lions}}| Non-conference regular season
{{CBB schedule entry
| date = November 25, 2020
| time = 5:30 pm
| nonconf = yes
| opponent = Oakwood
| site_stadium = Flowers Hall
| site_cityst = Florence, AL
| tv = ESPN+
| score = 98–74
| attend = 187
| record = 1–0
}}
{{CBB schedule entry
| date = December 6, 2020
| time = 2:00 pm
| nonconf = yes
| opponent = [http://carver.edu/contents/Athletics/MensBasketball.html Carver]
| site_stadium = Flowers Hall
| site_cityst = Florence, AL
| tv = ESPN+
| score = 107–40
| attend = 194
| record = 2–0
}}
{{CBB schedule entry
| date = December 10, 2020
| time = 6:00 pm
| nonconf = yes
| opponent = Troy
| site_stadium = Flowers Hall
| site_cityst = Florence, AL
| tv = ESPN+
| score = 57–62
| attend = 312
| record = 2–1
}}
{{CBB schedule entry
| date = December 13, 2020
| time = 11:00 am
| nonconf = yes
| away = yes
| opponent = Indiana
| site_stadium = Simon Skjodt Assembly Hall
| site_cityst = Bloomington, IN
| tv = BTN
| score = 52–87
| attend =
| record = 2–2
}}
{{CBB schedule entry
| date = December 17, 2020
| time = 6:00 pm
| nonconf = yes
| opponent = Crowley's Ridge
| site_stadium = Flowers Hall
| site_cityst = Florence, AL
| tv = ESPN+
| score = 99–51
| attend = 181
| record = 3–2
}}
{{CBB schedule entry
| date = December 20, 2020
| time = 2:00 pm
| nonconf = yes
| opponent = Freed–Hardeman
| site_stadium = Flowers Hall
| site_cityst = Florence, AL
| tv = ESPN+
| score = 82–56
| attend =
| record = 4–2
}}
|-
!colspan=12 style={{CollegePrimaryStyle|North Alabama Lions}}| 2020–21 Atlantic Sun Conference men's basketball season
{{CBB schedule entry
| date = January 1, 2021
| time = 6:00 pm
| away = yes
| status = p
| opponent = Florida Gulf Coast
| site_stadium = Alico Arena
| site_cityst = Fort Myers, FL
| gamename =
| tv =
| score = Postponed due to COVID-19 issues
| attend =
| record =
| conference =
}}
{{CBB schedule entry
| date = January 2, 2021
| time = 6:00 pm
| away = yes
| status = p
| opponent = Florida Gulf Coast
| site_stadium = Alico Arena
| site_cityst = Fort Myers, FL
| gamename =
| tv =
| score = Postponed due to COVID-19 issues
| attend =
| record =
| conference =
}}
{{CBB schedule entry
| date = January 8, 2021
| time = 6:00 pm
| opponent = Stetson
| site_stadium = Flowers Hall
| site_cityst = Florence, AL
| tv = ESPN+
| score = 77–86
| attend = 392
| record = 4–3
| conference = 0–1
}}
{{CBB schedule entry
| date = January 9, 2021
| time = 6:00 pm
| opponent = Stetson
| site_stadium = Flowers Hall
| site_cityst = Florence, AL
| tv = ESPN+
| score = 73–66
| overtime = OT
| attend = 368
| record = 5–3
| conference = 1–1
}}
{{CBB schedule entry
| date = January 15, 2021
| time = 5:00 pm
| away = yes
| opponent = Kennesaw State
| site_stadium = KSU Convocation Center
| site_cityst = Kennesaw, GA
| tv = ESPN+
| score = 66–43
| attend = 387
| record = 6–3
| conference = 2–1
}}
{{CBB schedule entry
| date = January 16, 2021
| time = 3:00 pm
| away = yes
| opponent = Kennesaw State
| site_stadium = KSU Convocation Center
| site_cityst = Kennesaw, GA
| tv = ESPN+
| score = 66–64
| attend = 348
| record = 7–3
| conference = 3–1
}}
{{CBB schedule entry
| date = January 22, 2021
| time = 6:00 pm
| opponent = Jacksonville
| site_stadium = Flowers Hall
| site_cityst = Florence, AL
| tv = ESPN+
| score = 82–81
| overtime = OT
| attend = 351
| record = 8–3
| conference = 4–1
}}
{{CBB schedule entry
| date = January 23, 2021
| time = 6:00 pm
| opponent = Jacksonville
| site_stadium = Flowers Hall
| site_cityst = Florence, AL
| tv = ESPN+
| score = 76–54
| attend = 385
| record = 9–3
| conference = 5–1
}}
{{CBB schedule entry
| date = January 29, 2021
| time = 6:00 pm
| away = yes
| opponent = North Florida
| site_stadium = UNF Arena
| site_cityst = Jacksonville, FL
| tv = ESPN+
| score = 82–78
| attend = 807
| record = 10–3
| conference = 6–1
}}
{{CBB schedule entry
| date = January 30, 2021
| time = 4:00 pm
| away = yes
| opponent = North Florida
| site_stadium = UNF Arena
| site_cityst = Jacksonville, FL
| tv = ESPN+
| score = 72–82
| attend = 714
| record = 10–4
| conference = 6–2
}}
{{CBB schedule entry
| date = February 5, 2021
| time = 6:00 pm
| away = yes
| opponent = Florida Gulf Coast
| site_stadium = Alico Arena
| site_cityst = Fort Myers, Florida
| tv = ESPN+
| score = 60–86
| attend = 821
| record = 10–5
| conference = 6–3
}}
{{CBB schedule entry
| date = February 6, 2021
| time = 6:00 pm
| away = yes
| opponent = Florida Gulf Coast
| site_stadium = Alico Arena
| site_cityst = Fort Myers, Florida
| tv = ESPN+
| score = 60–69
| attend =
| record = 10–6
| conference = 6–4
}}
{{CBB schedule entry
| date = February 12, 2021
| time = 6:00 pm
| opponent = Bellarmine
| site_stadium = Flowers Hall
| site_cityst = Florence, AL
| tv = ESPN+
| score = 64–66
| attend = 283
| record = 10–7
| conference = 6–5
}}
{{CBB schedule entry
| date = February 13, 2021
| time = 6:00 pm
| opponent = Bellarmine
| site_stadium = Flowers Hall
| site_cityst = Florence, AL
| tv = ESPN+
| score = 63–87
| attend = 317
| record = 10–8
| conference = 6–6
}}
{{CBB schedule entry
| date = February 22, 2021
| time = 11:00 am
| away = yes
| opponent = Liberty
| site_stadium = Liberty Arena
| site_cityst = Lynchburg, VA
| tv = ESPN+
| score = 54–74
| attend = 250
| record = 10–9
| conference = 6–7
}}
{{CBB schedule entry
| date = February 23, 2021
| time = 11:00 am
| away = yes
| opponent = Liberty
| site_stadium = Liberty Arena
| site_cityst = Lynchburg, VA
| tv = ESPN+
| score = 54–74
| attend = 250
| record = 10–10
| conference = 6–8
}}
{{CBB schedule entry
| date = February 26, 2021
| time = 6:00 pm
| opponent = Lipscomb
| site_stadium = Flowers Hall
| site_cityst = Florence, AL
| status = p
| tv =
| score = Postponed due to COVID-19 issues
| attend =
| record =
| conference =
}}
{{CBB schedule entry
| date = February 27, 2021
| time = 6:00 pm
| opponent = Lipscomb
| site_stadium = Flowers Hall
| site_cityst = Florence, AL
| tv = ESPN+
| score = 73–66
| attend =
| record = 11–10
| conference = 7–8
}}
|-
!colspan=12 style={{CollegePrimaryStyle|North Alabama Lions}}| 2021 Atlantic Sun men's basketball tournament
|-
{{CBB schedule entry
| date = March 4, 2021
| time = 1:00 pm
| opponent = North Florida
| oppseed = 4
| seed = 5
| neutral = yes
| site_stadium = Swisher Gymnasium
| site_cityst = Jacksonville, FL
| gamename = Quarterfinals
| tv = ESPN+
| score = 68–60
| attend =
| record = 12–10
}}
{{CBB schedule entry
| date = March 4, 2021
| time = 6:00 pm
| opponent = Florida Gulf Coast
| oppseed = 6
| seed = 5
| neutral = yes
| site_stadium = UNF Arena
| site_cityst = Jacksonville, FL
| gamename = Semifinals
| tv = ESPN+
| score = 96–81
| attend =
| record = 13–10
}}
{{CBB schedule entry
| date = March 7, 2021
| time = 2:00 pm
| opponent = Liberty
| oppseed = 1
| seed = 5
| neutral = yes
| site_stadium = UNF Arena
| site_cityst = Jacksonville, FL
| gamename = Championship
| tv = ESPN
| score = 75–79
| attend =
| record = 13–11
}}
|-
{{CBB schedule end|rank=| poll=AP Poll|region=|regionname=|timezone=Central}}
References
{{Reflist}}
{{North Alabama Lions men's basketball navbox}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:2020-21 North Alabama Lions men's basketball team}}
Category:North Alabama Lions men's basketball seasons