Box Score

WINONA LAKE, Ind. – The Union University men's basketball team fell 69-67 to Point Loma Nazarene (Calif.) University Wednesday afternoon in the National Christian College Athletics Association (NCCAA) National Tournament. Fifth seeded Union dropped to 13-16 overall, while fourth seeded Point Loma improved to 18-11.

Union has been eliminated from championship contention but will drop to the consolation bracket to face eighth seed Carver (Ga.) College Thursday at 11:00 a.m. central time. Win or lose, Union will play one final game Friday as they continue in the consolation bracket.

A late Union rally fell short in the loss as Union rallied from a 13-point deficit in the final three minutes to cut the final score to two points.

Union trailed 4-0 before Ashanti Day made the score 4-2. A pair of fouls by Day in the opening couple of minutes provided the Bulldogs bench extensive opportunities to contribute. Consecutive 3-point baskets from Pedro Faller and AJ Roberts gave Union a 16-13 lead at the 11:57 mark. Point Loma Nazarene was ahead 23-18 before a 6-0 Union spurt. Corieon Pearson passed to Eric Leisey for a basket. Roy Bullock scored off a feed from Roberts at 7:58. Roberts gave Union the 24-23 advantage with 6:56 left in the half. An 11-1 run to end the half put the Sea Lions in front 34-25. The Bulldogs were scoreless in the remaining four minutes of the half.

Day opened the second half with two free throws to trim the lead to 34-27. The Sea Lions scored the next five points for a 39-27 edge. Union nailed two 3-point shots in a row from Faller and Pearson to climb within three 39-33. The three point difference at 17:07 was as close as the Bulldogs got to the Sea Lions until the final minute. Union charged back from the largest Point Loma Nazarene lead of the game 68-53 at 2:59 for a close finish. In the closing minutes Union scored 14 of the last 15 points. In the last half minute the Bulldogs got points off a shot from Faller, free throws by Roberts and a Day 3-point bucket as time expired to provide the 69-67 final. The Sea Lions were 1-of-5 from the free throw line in the ending minute.

Despite being plagued by early foul trouble Day finished with a game high 19 points. Roberts concluded the afternoon with 15 and Pearson scored 12. Union shot 46 percent from the field, 35 percent (6-17) from long range, and 69 percent (9-13) from the free throw line. Union outscored Point Loma 42-35 in the second, shooting 50 percent from the field and 3-point line. However, could not erase the nine point halftime deficit.

Junior Morgan had 17 points and a game high nine rebounds for the Sea Lions. AJ Ussery and Judd Welfringer each scored 11 points. The Sea Lions connected on a sizzling 47.4 percent (9-of-19) from 3-point range. Overall Point Loma Nazarene made 51 percent (25-of-49) of their shots.

#UNION#