JACKSON, Tenn. – The Union University men's basketball team lost 75-68 to Lee University Saturday afternoon at Fred DeLay Gymnasium. Lee missed seven total shots in the second half to render Union's comeback attempts meaningless down the stretch.


GAME DETAILS
Final: Lee 75 | Union 68
Records: Union 9-6, 4-6 | Lee 9-6, 5-4
Location: Fred DeLay Gymnasium - Jackson, Tennessee
Series: Union leads 18-16
Social: @UUAthletics  |  #WeAreUU  |  UUAthletics.com


WHAT HAPPENED

• Union scored the first four points of the game, while Lee answered with five straight to lead 5-4. Union regained the lead and held a small advantage for most of the first half. With Union leading 19-18 with 7:57 left in the half, the Bulldogs posted 14-2 run to jump out to a 13 point lead, 33-20, with 4:42 left to play. Nick Velasquez was 3-for-3 from long range in the first half, all during that run for Union. Lee chipped away and went into the locker room down jut five, 39-34. Union's Ashanti Day led all scorers with 14 points in the first half. Both teams were over 50 percent shooting from the field, including 3-point range. 
• Lee started the second half with five straight points to tie the game. Including the final three points of the first half, Lee posted a 20-4 run to extend out to a 51-43 lead with 12:37 left in the game. After Union cut the lead to five, Lee extended their lead to double figures, 63-50, with an 8-0 run. Braden Burnside stopped the run with a 3-pointer, getting Union back within 10, 63-53 with 6:52 left in the game. Burnside's 3-pointer sparked a 11-3 run for Union that got the Bulldogs back to within five, points, 66-61, with 3:16 left to play. 
• After a pair of three throws from Lee, Union's Velasquez was fouled on 3-point attempt. He hit two of three with Charlie Wilson getting the offensive board. He hit a pair of free throws after being could to cut the Union deficit to just three points, 68-65 with 1:23 left. 
• Lee responded with a 3-pointer from Jervon Johnson and then after a Union turnover, a layup from Cody Jones to go back up by eight points, 73-65 with 30 seconds left. Union quickly got a 3-pointer from KC Goodwin with 21 seconds left. Lee hit two more free throws down the stretch to seal the win. 

STAT OF THE GAME
Lee missed just seven total field goals in the second half, improving their 57 percent shooting in the first half to 63 percent for the game. In the second half, Lee was 15-of-22 from the field and 8-of-8 from the free throw line.


TEAM STATS

• Union shot 48 percent from the field, 56 percent (10-18) from 3-point range and 70 percent (16-23) from the free throw line. 
• Lee shot 63 percent from the field, 46 percent (5-11) from long range and 91 percent (10-11) from the charity stripe. 
• Lee out rebounded Union 27-19 while both teams committed 11 turnovers. 

PLAYER STATS

• Union was led by Day with 19 points. Goodwin added 12, Velasquez 11 and Wilson 10 points. 
• Lee was led by Keevin Tyus with 23 points. Johnson scored 17 and Woods added 16 points. 

UP NEXT
Union will begin a four game road trip starting at the University of West Georgia Thursday, January 19 at 4:30 p.m. Union will return home Thursday, February 2 to face the University of West Alabama at 6 p.m. Listen to the games on 93.1 FM or online at www.uuathletics.com/live. 

-UNION-