Box Score LIVINGSTON, Ala. – The Union University men's basketball team lost a tough road contest Saturday evening at the University of West Alabama 74-70. Union dropped to 16-7 on the season and 10-7 in the Gulf South Conference. West Alabama improved to 16-9 overall and 11-6 in league play.
The win for West Alabama clinched a spot in the GSC Tournament in March for the Tigers. But they were not the only one that did so Saturday. Despite the loss, Union also clinched a spot in their first every Gulf South Conference Tournament after Valdosta State (Ga.) lost Saturday evening. Union currently sits in fifth place in the standings, but just two games back of league leading Alabama Huntsville (12-5) with five games to play.
The first half was back-and-forth producing three ties and seven lead changes. West Alabama took the early 2-0 lead, but Union's
Roy Bullock answered back with three of his 13 first half points to put Union up 3-2. However, it was West Alabama holding a slim lead for the next nine minutes when Union tied the game 19-19. Union then took control, going up by as many as six points in the first half, 32-26, with 5:07 left in the half. Union's
Brennan Bowling's three put gave Union a five point lead with 2:16 to go in the half. But West Alabama posted a 6-0 run to take a brief lead. Two free throws with one second left by Bullock gave Union the 42-41 edge at the break.
West Alabama opened the second half with an 8-0 run to lead 49-42 with 17:27 left in the game. In five minutes of play including the end of the first half and start of the second half, West Alabama outscored Union 14-2. West Alabama led by that same margin three different times in the second half, with Union cutting it down each time. Then with 2:58 left in the game, Union's
Felipe Rocha hit a pair of free throws to tie the game at 66-66. But West Alabama was able to hit key shots down the stretch to regain the slim lead. Union had a shot with 10 second left and down by just two, but the Tigers were able to strip the ball away from the Bulldogs as they went for the tie. A pair of free throws by the Tigers with second left sealed the 74-70 win.
Union was led by
Corieon Pearson with 15 points.
Marterrace Brock added 14 points,
Roy Bullock scored 13 and
Ashanti Day scored 12.
Jordan Montgomery led Unioni with eight rebounds. Union shot 43 percent from the field, 47 percent (9-19) from 3-point range and 83 percent (15-18) from the free throw line.
West Alabama was led by Kenric McCants with 18 points. Deontaye Ewing scored 16 points, Justin Wright added 14 and Charles Eaton scored 12. The Tigers shot 53 percent from the field, 31 percent (4-13) from long range and 78 percent (14-18) from the free throw line.
After wrapping up stretch of four straight road games, Union returns home for three straight at the Fred starting Thursday, February 12 versus Valdosta State at 8:00 p.m. Listed on 93.1 FM, watch on Eplus TV 6 or follow along with both online at
www.uuathletics.com/live.
#UNION#
