Box Score

JACKSON, Tenn. – The Union University men's basketball team began the 2013-14 season with a resounding win, 96-54 in the Fred Delay Gymnasium over Champion Baptist (Ark.) College Monday evening. Union is 1-0 in the new season. The Bulldogs are undefeated in season openers under head coach David Niven, who is beginning his fifth season. Champion Bible College, a member of the NCCAA from Hot Springs, Ark. is 1-4.
 
Senior AJ Roberts got the scoring going for Union putting in the first five points. Pedro Faller knocked in 11 of the Bulldogs next 15 points to raise the lead to 20-6 at 12:46 of the opening first half. A 16-4 run capped by a Roberts layup made the score 36-10 with about nine minutes remaining in the half. After a layup from Corieon Pearson the Bulldogs lead ballooned to 52-17, the largest lead of the half. Union went to halftime up 58-28.
 
The Bulldogs began the closing half with a 9-0 spurt for a 65-28 score. Ashanti Day scored seven of the nine points in the opening blast by Union. The Tigers Zach Hendricks hit a free throw to reduce the score to 77-43 with 8:16 to play. Day threw down a dunk at 5:59 to give the Bulldogs an 87-45 edge. Eric Leisey made the score 92-47 with a layup at 4:52.
 
Five Bulldogs scored in double figures. Faller went for 17 points, Pearson 16, Day 14, Leisey 13 and Roberts 12. Stephen Hurst popped in 19 points to lead Champion Baptist College. DJ Schnell added 12 for the Tigers. Union out-rebounded Champion Baptist College 41-26. Of the 41 rebounds, ten were grabbed off the offensive glass.
 
Union shot 55 percent from the field, including 72 percent in the first half. Union made 9-of-12 3-pointers (75%) in the first half and finished the game with a 52 percent shooting from long range (11-21). Union made 74 percent (17-23) from the free throw line.

Champion Baptist shot 36 percent from the field, 22 percent (4-18) form 3-point range, and 67 percent (10-15) from the free throw line.

Next up for Union is Central Baptist College (Ark). at 4:00 p.m. on Saturday in Fred Delay Gymnasium. \

#UNION#