Box Score
CLEVELAND, Miss. – The Union University men's basketball team fell to one of the top teams in the country, at No. 24 Delta State University, 75-64 Saturday afternoon. Union dropped to 8-6 overall and 4-4 in Gulf South Conference play. Delta State moved to 14-2 and 7-1 in the GSC.
Union and Delta State began the game with offensive balance. The 9-8 Delta State advantage at the 14:50 media timeout revealed each of the combined eight baskets were made by eight different players. Cornel Knight sank a 3-point basket to put the Statesmen ahead 16-11. Consecutive layups from
Miguel Martinez and a pair from
Corieon Pearson tied the game 17-17. Delta State scored the next five points and with 5:48 left in the half were in front 22-17. Devin Schmidt made two free throws to give the Statesmen their largest lead of the half 27-19.
Ashanti Day had the next four points for Union to cut the deficit 27-23. Delta State went to intermission up 29-25.
Less than two minutes into the second half Day went to the bench after picking up his third personal foul. Moments later Martinez was whistled for fouls three and four, in doing so, joining Day as starters in foul trouble. Meanwhile Delta State kicked off the second half using a 9-0 run to go on top 38-25. A pair of layups by Pearson pulled the Statesmen margin back to single digits 38-29 with 13:52 remaining. Madgen hit his fourth 3-point shot of the game to give Delta State a 16 point lead 48-32. The Statesmen advantage grew to 17 points midway through the second half. Union made the Delta State edge 13 points four times in the final 10 minutes of play before
Pedro Faller knocked in a 3-point shot with 2:38 to trail by 12, 69-57.
AJ Roberts made a layup at 1:58 for a 69-59 score. With a little over a minute left
Roy Bullock rattled home a 3-pointer to get the score to single digits 71-62. Delta State went on to win 75-64.
Pearson had a team high 20 points. Day scored 15 points and Roberts 14. Madgen led the Statesmen with 20 points. Delta State post players Mike Washington and Willie Readus had 18 and 15 points, respectively. Washington grabbed 11 rebounds all defensive.
Union is back home Thursday against Alabama Huntsville at 8:00 p.m.
#UNION#
