Box Score

JACKSON, Tenn. – The Union University men's basketball team fell 83-70 to Valdosta State (Ga.) University in the first Gulf South Conference action. Union dropped to 1-4 on the season and 0-1 in league play. Valdosta State remained unbeaten on the season, moving to 6-0 overall and 1-0 in the conference.
 
Union controlled the game at first, jumping out to a 4-0 lead and leading 9-3 in front of a nice crowd at the Fred DeLay Gymnasium. Union got early 3-pointers from Corieon Pearson and Roy Bullock, III. Union held off the Blazers until the 12:10 mark when Demetris Allen sank a basket to give his team their first lead at 15-14. The teams went back and forth for the remainder of the half that featured seven lead changes and four ties. Union led 28-27 with 4:04 left in the half when Valdosta State's Shaquille Harris scored 10 straight points for the Blazers to close out the half. Harris sank a field goal, two 3-pointers, and a pair of free throws to complete his personal 10-4 run against Union in the final four minutes of the half. Valdosta State led 37-32 at the break.
 
The two teams combined for 12 made 3-pointers, including seven from Valdosta State in the first half.
 
In the second half, Valdosta State maintained the lead for the entire half. However, Union kept the deficit in single digits for a while, until another 3-pointer from Harris put his team up 60-50 at the 11 minute mark. Union had one more run left. The Bulldogs rallied to pull to within three points, 60-57, with 10 minutes left. Five of the seven points in that run came from the free throw line for Union.
 
But Valdosta State was able to answer the Union rally and regain control of the game. The Blazers pushed their lead up to as many as 17 points, 76-59, thanks to a 16-2 run. The Blazers left Union with an 83-70 win.
 
Union was led by Anthony Freeman, Jr. with 20 points, including 8-11 shooting from the floor. Pearson added 16 points with three 3-pointers. Pedro Faller continued his hot shooting from long range with three more 3-pointers. He now has 13 made three pointers in his last three games. Union shot 40 percent from the field, 32 percent (7-22) from behind the arc, and 68 percent (13-19) from the free throw line.
 
Valdosta State was led by David Murray with 20 points, including five 3-pointers. Harris added 19 points with four 3-pointers. James Anacreon recorded a double-double with 14 points and 10 rebounds, while Josh Sparks scored 13 points. The Blazers shot 46 percent from the field, 40 percent (10-25) from long range, and 73 percent (19-26) from the charity stripe.
 
Up next for Union will be another home conference game, Saturday, December 1 at 4:00 p.m. versus West Florida.
 
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