Box Score

JACKSON, Tenn. – The Union University men's basketball team defeated the University of West Alabama 81-74 Thursday night for senior night at Fred DeLay Gymnasium. Union improved to 8-17 on the season and 6-11 in the Gulf South Conference. West Alabama dropped to 10-14 overall and 6-11 in league play.
 
Union has won two straight games, four of their last five games overall, and five straight home games. Since starting the season 3-13, Union is 5-4 in their last nine games. During their recent four wins in five games, Union has knocked off the second, third and fifth place teams in the Gulf South Conference, with the only loss coming by five points at NCAA DII No. 6 ranked Alabama-Huntsville.
 
Union's Corieon Pearson finished with a team-high 23 points to lead Union. However, it was his second half play that turned the tide for Union. Pearson scored 21 of his 23 points in the second half. He was a perfect 9-for-9 from the field and 1-for-1 from long range in the final 20 minutes.
 
The first half was closely played but was very uneventful as both teams struggled shooting from the field. Union was just 37 percent from the field and was only 2-of-11 (18%) from 3-point range. West Alabama shot just 36 percent from the field and were 0-of-6 from long range.
 
In the second half, things picked up. After combining for just 50 total points in the first half, both teams combined to score 105 points in the final 20 minutes (55-50). Union shot 67 percent from the field in the second half, including 5-of-10 (50%) from long range. The 55 points in the second half for Union was a season high for a half.
 
After scoring the final three points of the first half, West Alabama continued with the momentum to start the second half. The Tigers posted a 22-7 run to go from down five to up by 10 points, 43-33, with 15:50 left in the game. However, Union again rallied and took the lead for good, 52-51 with 10:36 left to play. Union answered the West Alabama run with a 26-8 run to go from down 10 to up eight points, 59-51, with 9:08 left. West Alabama got as close as four points, but Union quickly pushed the lead up to as many as 12 points, 75-63, with 1:35 left. Union was 6-for-6 from the free throw line in the final 11 seconds as West Alabama made a few shots late to set the final at 81-74.
 
West Alabama scored the first four points of the game and pushed out to a 12-4 lead over the first eight minutes. Union went nearly four minutes without a field goal. Union slowly began to rally and with 2:22 left in the half, Union's Pedro Faller hit the game's first 3-pointer to give Union a 21-19 lead. West Alabama tied the game at 21-21, but Union post five straight points, capped off by another 3-pointer from Faller. Union held a 26-24 lead at the half.
 
Union was led by Pearson's 23 points. Senior Anthony Freeman added 21 points, including 7-of-10 shooting from the field and made all seven of his free throws. Faller added 16 points including three 3-pointers. Union shot 51 percent from the field, 33 percent (7-21) from long range, and 94 percent (16-17) from the free throw line.
 
West Alabama was led by Sandy Underwood with a game-high 27 points and 11 rebounds. Jack Hill scored 21 points and Steven Samuels added 17 points. The Tigers shot 46 percent from the field, 23 percent (3-13) from 3-point range, and 79 percent (11-14) from the free throw line.
 
Up next for Union will be the final regular season game as the Bulldogs travel to West Georgia Saturday at 3:00 p.m. central time.
 
#UNION#