JACKSON, Tenn.- The Union University men's basketball team kept pace with the league leaders with a win against the University of West Florida 82-63 Saturday evening. Union is tied for third now, and just one game out of first place in the Gulf South Conference with a 12-7 record. Union's overall record improved to 18-7, while West Florida fell to 3-16 in conference and 7-18 overall.
 
Union opened up the game with a 3-pointer from Corieon Pearson to take the lead and get the game started on the right foot. The Bulldogs kept the lead until 15:27 in the first half when West Florida took the lead on a 9-0 run and held that lead until there was 6:46 left in the half. Union regained control of the game to go up by seven with 38 seconds left. With the first half clock winding down, Pearson hit another three to put Union up by 10 points. Then Jordan Montgomery came up with a steal and a layup as time expired on the ensuing inbounds pass from West Florida to go into the locker room up 44-32.
 
West Florida kept the pressure on Union for the first five minutes of the second half until the Bulldogs went on a 20-1 point run, 13 of those belonging to Marterrace Brock. The score was 65-46 with 10 minutes left to play. Union cruised from there, leading West Florida by as many as 23 points down the stretch.
 
The Bulldogs shot 46.0 percent and 46.4 percent from the field and behind the arc, including over 50 percent from both in the first half. Brock led Union with 22 points, six steals and eight rebounds. Pearson added 19 points and eight assists. Montgomery also added 16 points to the Bulldog total while going 4-of 5 from long range.
 
West Florida was led by Lendward Griffin who recorded 20 points with Deangelo Legrier had a double-double with 15 points and 12 rebounds. The Argos shot 45.5 percent from the field while only sinking one three in 15 attempts.
 
Union will finish out their regular season home schedule on Thursday, February 19^th, at 8:00 p.m. when they take on North Alabama. Listen on 93.1 FM, watch on Eplus TV 6, or online at www.uuathletics.com.
 
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