BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – The Union University men fell 71-68 to the University of West Georgia in the semifinals of the Gulf South Conference Tournament. Third seeded Union dropped to 20-10 on the season, while second seeded West Georgia improved to 21-8 overall.
 
Union led for the entire first 37 minutes of the game, including a 14-point lead once in the first half and again five minutes into the second half. However, West Georgia took their first lead, 63-62 with three minutes left in the game and never trailed again.
 
The Wolves led by as many as five points, 71-66, with 1:12 left to play. Union got a pair of free throws from Roy Bullock with 54 seconds left to get Union to within three points, 71-68. Union's Serign Mboup took a charge against West Georgia giving the Bulldogs a shot with 15 seconds left. Union missed on 3-point attempt; however, West Georgia missed the front in of a one-and-one on the other end. Union had one final chance with 11 seconds left but Bullock was stripped of the ball in the final seconds and West Georgia escaped with the win.
 
Union opened the game with a 3-pointer from Bullock and led 12-2 after almost five minutes of play. West Georgia cut the deficit to one points, 14-13, but Union maintained the lead. Union pushed their lead to 14 points with 1:23 left in the first half, 38-24. West Georgia closed the half on a 6-0 run to cut the halftime lead for Union to 38-30.
 
Union shot 44 percent from the field in the first half, including 60 percent (6-10) from long range.
 
Union maintained control and with 14:59 left in the game, had pushed their lead back to 14 points, 49-35. West Georgia began to slowly chip away and with three minutes left, caught the Bulldogs.
 
The Wolves shot 52 percent from the field in the second half, including 67 percent (4-6) from long range.
 
Union was led by Roy Bullock with 17 points. Jordan Montgomery  added 14 points, Ashanti Day posted a double-double with 13 points and 14 rebounds, while KC Goodwin scored 11 points. Union shot 36 percent from the field, 40 percent (6-15) from 3-point range and 81 percent (26-32) from the free throw line.
 
West Georgia was led by Alston Iakeem with 25 points and Steph Branch with 17 points. The Wolves shot 41 percent from the field, 22 percent (4-18) from behind the arc and 55 percent (11-20) from the free throw line.
 
Union is currently No. 7 in the South Region Poll and will await the NCAA DII National Tournament Selection Show Sunday night, March 6 at 10:30 p.m. to see if the Bulldogs will make a return trip to the regional round. Click HERE to view the selection show.
 
-UNION-