Box Score

JACKSON, Tenn. – The Union University men's basketball team posted a 72-68 Homecoming win over Shorter (Ga.) University Saturday night at Fred DeLay Gymnasium. Union improved to 7-17 on the season and 5-11 in the Gulf South Conference. Shorter dropped to 15-10 overall and 9-8 in league play.
                   
For Union, this is their fourth straight win at home and third win in the last four games. Over the last four games, Union has defeated the league's second, third, and fifth place teams. The only loss was a five point road loss at No. 8 and league leader Alabama-Huntsville Thursday night.
 
Union opened the game with a 3-pointer from freshman guard Roy Bullock. Shorter responded with a 9-0 run to take the lead. Union slowly cut the deficit down and tied the game on a Pedro Faller 3-pointer, 24-24, with six minutes left in the half. Union led by two points, 29-27, before Shorter regained the lead, going up 39-36 at halftime.
 
In the second half, Union outscored Shorter 16-4 over the first five minutes of play to take their largest lead of nine points, 52-43. Union never trailed again, but was not able to put Shorter away. The Hawks managed to tie the game 63-63 with 1:35 left in the game. However, Union's AJ Roberts answered with a 3-pointer to put Union up for good. Union led again by three points, 68-65 with 24 seconds left and Shorter with the ball. However, a turnover by the Hawks led to a Union layup with 12 seconds left. Shorter made it interesting with a 3-pointer from Dedric Ware with two seconds left. But Union's Faller drained a pair of free throws to give Union the win.
 
Union was led by AJ Roberts with 18 points, including three 3-pointers. Faller scored 16 points with three 3-pointers, while Bullock added 10 points. Dani Marti recorded a double-double with 14 points and 17 rebounds. Union shot 37 percent from the field, 46 percent (13-28) from long range, and 85 percent (11-13) from the free throw line.
 
Shorter was led by Ware with a game-high 22 points. Anthony Banks scored 18 points and Kenny Leverette added 11 points. The Hawks shot 38 percent from the field, 24 percent (6-25) from long range, and 75 percent (6-8) from the free throw line.
 
Up next for Union will be their final home game of the season, Thursday, February 28 versus West Alabama at 8:00 p.m.
 
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