JACKSON, Tenn.- The Union University men's basketball team beat Valdosta State (Ga.) University 91-80 Saturday to pull within one game of first place in the Gulf South standings. Union improved to 11-7 in conference play and 17-7 overall, while the Blazers fell to 4-14 in conference and 9-15 overall.
 
Valdosta State took the lead at the beginning of the game after winning the tip and eventually scoring off of a jumper from James Spencer. Union immediately took back the lead after Jordan Montgomery sank the first of his four 3-pointers. The Bulldogs did not give up the lead for the rest of the game.
 
The Bulldogs led by as many as 21 in the first half with Pedro Faller and Marterrace Brock leading the game with 15 points each in the first half. Union went into the locker room leading 48-32 shooting 45.7% from the field.
 
Union kept a double-digit lead in the second half until 5:32 remained on the clock when Lester Moore hit a three to pull the Blazers within nine of the Bulldogs. Valdosta State continued to make things tough on Union for the remaining five minutes, but the Bulldogs hit big shots down the stretch to maintain control, moving to the 11 point victory.
 
Faller led a balanced Union offense with 22 points, just missing his career high of 24 points scored in a game last season. Montgomery added 18 for Union and Roy Bullock scored 12. Brock added another 19 points and led the Bulldogs with 11 rebounds for the double-double, while Corieon Pearson also scored 14 points and added eight assists.
 
The Bulldogs shot 46.9 percent from the field and 51.9 percent (14-27) from long range and also recorded a season high 47 rebounds as a team.
 
Jeff Nibo led Valdosta State with 23 points and Shaun Jones added another 14 points. The Blazers shot 44.9 percent from the field while only shooting 32.1 percent from behind the arc.
 
The Bulldogs take on West Florida on Saturday, February 14, at 4:00 p.m. at Fred Delay Gymnasium to continue conference action. Listen on 93.1 FM, watch on Eplus TV 6, or online at www.uuathletics.com/live.
 
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