ROME, Ga. – The Union University men's basketball team earned a 99-66 win over fellow Tennessee and NCAA DII foe, LeMoyne-Owen College Friday night at the Shorter University Crossover Classic. This was the season opener for both teams.
 
Union wasted no time in taking control of the game as the Bulldogs started with a 12-0 run to open play. Union continued to push their lead and with 9:25 left in the first half, Union led 35-5. The Bulldogs went to the lockerroom up 54-26.
 
In the first half, Union shot 52 percent from the field and made 6-of-15 3-pointers for 40 percent. Union also made 18-of-21 free throws (86%) in the first 20 minutes.
 
Union led by as many as 28 points before early in the second half before LeMoyne-Owen cut the deficit down to just 15 points, 71-56, with 8:01 to play. However, Union quickly regained control of the game, pushing their lead back to the largest of the game, 36 points, 96-60, with just over two minutes to play. Over that six-minute stretch, Union outscored LeMoyne-Owen 25-4.
 
Union was led by Corieon Pearson with 24 points, including 3-of-5 from long range. Jordan Montgomery added 19 points and Ashanti day scored 17 points. Felipe Rocha led the Bulldogs with seven rebounds. Union shot 54 percent from the field, 46 percent (12-26) from long range, and 82 percent (23-28) from the free throw line.
 
LeMoyne-Owen was led by Daequan Mitchell-Fields with 17 points. Timothy Ware added 17 points and Byron Ray scored 12 points. The Magicians shot 41 percent from the field, 22 percent from long range, and 71 percent (20-28) from the free throw line.
 
Up next for Union will be versus Spring Hill (Ala.) Saturday in the same classic in Georgia with the game tipping at 5 p.m. central time. The game will feature a unique opportunity as cousins, David Niven of Union and Aaron Niven of Spring Hill, will lead their respective teams as head coaches.
 
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