JACKSON, Tenn. – The Union University Bulldogs posted a 95-83 win over the University of North Alabama Monday evening at Fred DeLay Gymnasium. Union improved to 12-4 on the season and 6-4 in the Gulf South Conference. North Alabama dropped to 9-7 overall and 6-4 in league play.
 
Union now sits in a three way tie for fourth place in the GSC standings, but just two games out of first place. Alabama Huntsville leads the way with an 8-2 record.
 
Union hit 10-of-25 3-pointers in the game for 40 percent, including a sizzling 60 percent (6-10) in the second half. Five different Bulldogs hit at least on 3-pointer.
 
Union opened with seven straight points over the first 3:20 of play. Union continued to push and with 9:39 left in the half, Union led 23-9. However, North Alabama woke up in a big way, scoring 16 straight points to take their first lead of the contest, 24-23. Union stopped the bleeding momentarily, but UNA pushed out to their largest lead of the game, 33-29 with 1:31 left in the half. Union answered with five straight points to regain the lead, but a UNA basket in the final seconds put the Lions up 35-34 at the break.
 
North Alabama opened the second half with a basket to lead 37-34. Then a 3-pointer from Jordan Montgomery sparked a 17-0 run for Union. Over a five minute stretch early in the second half, Union outscored UNA 21-2 and held their largest lead of the game at 16 points, 55-39. North Alabama slowed cut into the lead, getting as close as seven points, 72-65, with 5:29 left in the game. Union again answered with an Ashanti Day 3-pointer to push the lead back to double figures. Union held off all other UNA rallies with big shots down the stretch, including a dunk by Serigne Mboup late in the shot clock with 1:14 left after UNA had cut the lead to eight points. Union extended their lead back to as many as 15 points in the final minute before taking the 12-point win, 95-83. Union made 9-of-10 free throws in the final 1:03 of the game to help seal the victory.
 
Five Union players reached double figures in the game led by Marterrace Brock with 21 points, 15 in the second half. Montgomey added 18 points including 15 points in the second half. Day scored 16 and led with nine rebounds, while Mboup added 16 points and KC Goodwin scored 13 points. Union shot 50 percent from the field, including 61 percent in the second half. Union was 85 percent from the free throw line, hitting 23-of-27.
 
North Alabama was led by John Fletcher with a game high 30 points, including 20 in the first half. DeAndre McKinnie added 13 points and Tavaras Tolliver scored 11 points. The Lions shot 40 percent from the field, 21 percent (5-24) from 3-point range and 82 percent (22-27) from the free throw line.
 
Up next for Union will be the final game of the first run through the GSC schedule when the Bulldogs travel to Memphis for a 7 p.m. game, Thursday, January 14. Listen at 93.1 FM or online at www.uuathletics.com/live.
 
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