HUNTSVILLE, Ala. – The Union University men's basketball team dropped a heartbreaker 105-101 in double overtime at the University of Alabama in Huntsville. Union dropped to 11-4 on the season and 5-4 in the Gulf South Conference. UAH improved to 10-4 overall and 7-2 in league play.
Union led by as many as 18 points in the first half and 14 points at halftime. Union was clinging to a three point lead at the end of regulation but UAH 3-pointer by Brandon Roberts at the buzzer sent the game to overtime.
Union led again by two points with 1:12 left in the first overtime. UAH again tied the game, this time with a pair of free throws with 30 seconds left. Union missed on a final attempt get the win.
In the final overtime, Union trailed by three points, 103-100, but missed on the 3-point attempt. Union got the offensive rebound, but UAH fouled Union before the Bulldogs could get off another 3-pointer.
Brennan Bowling hit one of two free throws, but UAH got the rebound and made the clinching three throws on their end to seal the win.
This marked the second straight overtime loss for Union's men against UAH. Union lost 77-75 in last year's GSC Tournament Semifinals to the eventual champion Chargers. In the final regular season meeting last year at UAH, Union lost 75-74 when a game winning shot for Union was waived off at the buzzer. Union has lost seven straight games to UAH all by less that eight points.
UAH started the game with four straight points and a quick 7-2 lead. Union responded and dominated the rest of the half, pushing their lead to as many as 18 points, 42-24, with 2:39 left. UAH closed out the half with a 6-2 run to cut Union's lead down to 44-30.
In the second half, Union maintained a double-digit lead for over 10 minutes, including a 56-41 lead with 12 minutes left. UAH stormed back over the next two minutes to cut the deficit to just three points, 56-53. Union kept the lead, pushing back out to eight points and then led 76-70 with 35 seconds left. UAH hit a pair of free throws and Union answered with one of two free throws to set the scored at 77-72 with 19 seconds left. UAH quickly scored a layup with 13 seconds left to put the score at 77-74. Union committed a turnover, giving UAH one last shot and they converted with a three pointer at the buzzer, sending it to overtime.
Union played just eight players with six getting double figures.
Marterrace Brock led the way with 27 points.
Ashanti Day added 18 points, Bowling scored 16 points,
Serigne Mboup and
KC Goodwin added 12 each and
Roy Bullock scored 11 points. Mboup completed a double-double with 17 rebounds. Union shot 43 percent from the field, 35 percent (13-37) and 65 percent (26-40) from the free throw line.
Alabama Huntsville had seven players in double figures led by Roberts with 22 points. Gilmore scored 16 points, Ward had 15, Gardner scored 14, Webster added 14 Saxton scored 12 and Herring added 10 points. The Chargers shot 45 percent from the field, 40 percent (10-25) from 3-point range and 80 percent (37-46) from the free throw line.
Up next for Union will be a GSC home game Monday night at 8 p.m. versus North Alabama. Listen at 93.1 FM or online at
www.uuathletics.com/live.
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