Box Score

VALDOSTA, Ga. – The Union University men's basketball team fell 81-70 at Valdosta State University Thursday evening. Union dropped to 4-14 on the season and 2-8 in the Gulf South Conference. Valdosta State improved to 13-5 overall and 5-5 in league play.
 
Union and Valdosta State swapped small leads in the early going, before the Blazers pushed out to a 17-9 lead at the 13:12 mark. Union rallied and pulled to within one point, 17-16, thanks to an 8-0 run. However, Valdosta State held off Union and extended their lead back out to as many as 10 points in the first half. Union trailed by eight points, 35-27, at the half.
 
Union scored first in the second half to cut the deficit to six points, but did not get any closer. Union trailed by eight points, 48-40, with 13:26 left in the game. Then, a basket gave Valdosta State a double-digit lead and sparked a 9-0 run that extended the eight point lead to their largest of the game at 17 points with 11:22 left to play. Union slowly cut into the lead but only got as close as 11 points down the stretch.
 
Union was led by Dani Marti with 21 points and eight rebounds. Corieon Pearson added 16 points, including 4-for-4 from 3-point range. Anthony Freeman, Jr. scored 14 points and grabbed nine rebounds. Union shot 44 percent from the field, 29 percent (6-21) from 3-point range, and 50 percent (4-8) from the free throw line.
 
Valdosta State put five players in double figures led by Shaquille Harris with 14 points. James Anacreon added 12 points, while Josh Sparks, Alan Love, and Patrick Diop each added 11 points. The Blazers shot 45 percent from the field, 17 percent (2-12) from long range, and 86 percent (21-26) from the free throw line.
 
Up next for Union will be another road conference game at West Florida, Saturday at 4:00 p.m.
 
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