Box Score

VALDOSTA, Ga. – The Union University men dropped a close contest at Valdosta State University 66-63 Saturday night. Union dropped to 11-11 overall and 7-9 in the Gulf South Conference. Valdosta State improved to 13-8 on the season and 7-8 in GSC action.

A second half stretch of nearly eight minutes without a field goal doomed the Bulldogs. Union led 61-55  with 8:08 left in the game. A jumper from AJ Roberts gave Union their largest lead of the contest. However, Union only managed two points for the remainder of the game. A layup from Corieon Pearson with 12 seconds left cut the Valdosta lead down to 64-63. Between those two Union baskets, Valdosta State posted a 9-0 run to lead 64-61. The Blazers were 4-of-4 from the free throw line in the final 31 seconds to seal the win. Union missed on two 3-point attempts in the final seconds.

The Blazers had a 16-7 advantage when Blake Justice hit a 3-point shot at 15:13. Corieon Pearson scored the next five points with a 3-point bucket and two free throws to pull Union within four 16-12. Felipe Rocha nailed a 3-point basket at 8:14 to tie the score 26-26. Valdosta State went to intermission with momentum having outscored Union 14-6 in the last 7:24 of the half.

Union started the second half on a 6-2 run cutting the score to 42-38. A Colin Cook layup gave the Blazers their largest lead of the game 53-43 with 15:34 remaining. Pearson made the score 55-54 with a layup at 11:26 that finished an 11-2 blast. AJ Roberts closed a 7-0 surge with a jump shot to put Union in front 61-55 with a little over eight minutes to play. 

Ashanti Day scored 18 points to lead Union. Pearson had a double-double with 13 points and 12 rebounds. Roberts scored 11 points.

Cook had 17 points for the Blazers. Jeremy McKay scored 11 with 10 rebounds while David Murray had 10 points and 11 rebounds. Stone contributed 10 points for Valdosta State.

Union is back in action for their final two home games of the season beginning Thursday at 8:00 p.m. with a game against Christian Brothers in Fred DeLay Gymnasium.

#UNION#