JACKSON, Tenn. - The Union University men's basketball team defeated Mississippi College 89-81 Saturday afternoon at Fred DeLay Gymnasium. Union improved to 15-6 overall and 9-6 in the Gulf South Conference. Mississippi College dropped to 6-10 on the season and 5-9 in league play.
The Bulldogs of Union opened the game with a 7-0 run and led 13-3 after four minutes of play. Three pointers from Jordan Montgomery and Roy Bullock sparked the early Union run. Mississippi College responded to the slow start with a 11-0 run to take their first lead, 14-13, with 12:13 left in the half. Union stopped the MC run by scoring 11 of the next 14 points to push their lead to 24-17 at the under eight minute media timeout. The Choctaws cut the deficit to three points, 24-21, and then both teams matched each other shot for shot over the next five minutes. With 3:30 left in the half, Union still led by three, 34-31. With Union leading 37-33 with 2:24 left in the half, the Choctaws closed out the half outscoring Union 8-3 to regain the 41-40 lead at the break. MC's Jonny Rucker hit a jumper with seven seconds left in the half. The Union's Brennan Bowling had a 3-pointer rattle out at the buzzer.
Union shot 50 percent from the field in the first half and 58 percent (7-12) from 3-point range. Mississippi College hit 5-of-11 three pointers in the first half.
Union scored on their first possession of the second half to regain the lead, 42-41. Union opened the half with a 10-2 run to lead 50-44 with 16:40 left in the game. The run was capped with back-to-back 3-pointers from Marterrace Brock and KC Goodwin. Union extended their lead to 55-48 with 14:40 left following a 3-point play from Ashanti Day. Mississippi College stayed close and following an off-balance 3-pointer form Antonio Johnson, the Union lead was just 59-57.
The Bulldogs responded with 3-pointers from Montgomery on back-to-back trips to jump back up 66-59 with 8:27 left int he game. Mississippi College cut the deficit back down to four points, 72-68 with 5:53 left. Union again answered with a 6-1 run to push back up by nine points, 78-69, with 3:46 left to play. No one scored for over a minute, before Union's Brock hit a runner in the lane to extend Union's lead to 81-69 with 2:38 left in the game. Union led by 12 points several times in the final minutes, before taking the 89-81 win.
Union was led by Brock with a career high 35 points on 14-of-16 shooting from the field. Montgomery added 18 points, while Goodwin and Day each added 10 points. Union shot 57 percent from the field, 61 percent (11-18) from 3-point range and 67 percent (16-24) from the free throw line.
Mississippi College was led by Moore with 20 points. McGee added 19 points, while Haynes and Mack scored 12 and 10 points respectively. The Choctaws shot 48 percent from the field, 43 percent (9-21) from long range and 80 percent (16-20) from the charity stripe.
Up next for Union will be the third of four straight home game Thursday, February 4 at 8 p.m. versus West Georgia.
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