Box Score BLUEFIELD, Va. – The Union University men's basketball team posted a 98-71 win over Tennessee Temple University in the semifinals of the NCCAA MidEast Region Tournament Thursday afternoon. Union University improved to 12-15 on the season. Tennessee Temple concluded their season 21-13.
Union opened an early 10-4 advantage with
Corieon Pearson scoring eight of the Bulldogs first 10 points.
Paul Valdor put in four points to give Union a 14-6 lead. Tennessee Temple was forced to call a timeout when
Roy Bullock hit a 3-point shot that pushed the score to 17-6. Pearson netted his third 3-point basket of the half for a 12-point margin 23-11. The Crusaders cut the score to 25-17 before a layup by Pearson rose the score to double figures again 27-17.
Pedro Faller scored his first points of the game with a 3-point bucket to put Union in front 36-22. Faller knocked home another 3-point shot for a 41-24 Union edge. The Bulldogs went to intermission ahead 49-33. The 49 points for Union in the opening half were the most since scoring 56 points in the season opener.
Tennessee Temple opened the second half scoring nine of the first 15 points to lower the Union lead to 55-42 at 16:16. Faller splashed home a 3-point shot to put Union up 62-44. Consecutive long range shots from Pearson and
Ashanti Day increased the Bulldogs lead to 70-48 with 12:05 to play. A layup and free throw by
AJ Roberts gave Union a 22-point cushion 73-51.
Zach Phillips swished a long range shot to extend the Union lead to 87-61. The Bulldogs went on to prevail 98-71.
The Bulldogs had five double digit scorers. Day was atop the scoring column for Union with a career high 21 points. Pearson finished with 20, Bullock and Faller each had 12. Roberts scored 11 points and grabbed a team high seven rebounds. Eleven different Bulldogs scored in the game.
Tennessee Temple was led by Elliott Johnson with game highs in points 22 and rebounds 14.
Union will play for the NCCAA MidEast Region Championship against the winner of No. 1 seed and host Bluefield (Va.) College and No. 4 Hiwassee (Ga.) College Friday at 5:00 p.m. central time.
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