The budding college basketball rivalry between Austin Peay and North Alabama officially bloomed on Wednesday night in Clarksville. Corey Gipson refused to shake the hand of Tony Pujol for the second time in less than two weeks.
They hate each other.
As things currently stand, North Alabama is in a three-way tie for second place in the Atlantic Sun Conference. The top five teams are separated by only three games. Austin Peay is not one of them.
The Governors are not very good this year and they lost their second matchup against the Lions, 74-64. It was a sweep!
🤝🧹🤝🧹🤝🧹🤝🧹🤝🧹🤝🧹🤝🧹🤝🧹🤝🧹🤝🧹🤝🧹🤝🧹🤝🧹🤝🧹🤝🧹🤝🧹🤝🧹🤝🧹🤝🧹🤝🧹🤝🧹🤝🧹🤝🧹🤝🧹🤝🧹🤝🧹🤝🧹🤝🧹🤝🧹🤝🧹🤝🧹🤝🧹🤝🧹🤝🧹🤝🧹🤝🧹🤝🧹🤝🧹🤝🧹🤝🧹🤝🧹🤝🧹🤝🧹🤝🧹🤝🧹🤝🧹🤝🧹🤝🧹🤝🧹🤝🧹🤝🧹🤝🧹🤝🧹🤝🧹🤝🧹🤝🧹🤝🧹🤝🧹🤝🧹🤝🧹🤝🧹🤝🧹🤝🧹🤝🧹🤝🧹🤝🧹🤝🧹🤝🧹🤝🧹🤝
— North Alabama Men's Basketball (@UNA_Basketball) February 6, 2025
Austin Peay fans tried to their best to create a hostile environment at F&M Bank Arena. Students made it very clear that North Alabama was not welcome— especially Pujol.
Even their crowd chants “Thank You Tony” 👍
— North Alabama Men's Basketball (@UNA_Basketball) February 6, 2025
We are very thankful.#RoarLions 🦁 pic.twitter.com/D8tcEbTgxq
There is bad blood between the two programs and it stems from an incident at the end of last month. Gipson, who typically coaches in full Army combat fatigues, would not shake hands with his opponent after an overtime loss in Florence. The lack of respect did not go over well with the home team, which made sure to rub in the win as the visitors made their way off of the college basketball court. A fight ensued.
The Governors were none too pleased.
In our team meeting for football, basketball coach came in and talked about how disrespectful North Alabama was when they played in Florence. Definitely a growing rivalry.
— Austin Peay long snapper Tyson Moody
A similar incident happened on Wednesday without the fireworks. Gipson did not allow his players to shake hands for the second time in two weeks. North Alabama tried.
Senior guard Isaac Haney wanted to participate in the handshake line but his head coach pulled him away.
He just stood there and stared at Pujol.
The Lions mocked him for the sore loser behavior. Rightfully so!
Needless to say, Austin Peay and North Alabama are officially rivals in college basketball for as long as Tony Pujol and Corey Gipson are with their respective programs. They will not play again during the regular season but they could matchup in the ASUN Tournament. That would be fun!