FLORENCE, Ala. – The Union University men's basketball team took down the University of North Alabama Lions 97-76 after leading, 43-41, at the half.

GAME DETAILS
Final: Union 97 | North Alabama 76
Records: Union 9-5, 4-4 GSC | North Alabama 7-6, 2-5
Location: Florence, Alabama - Flowers Hall
Series: Union leads 23-16
Social: @UUAthletics  |  #WeAreUU  |  UUAthletics.com

WHAT HAPPENED

• Union scored first with a layup from Charlie Wilson. Wilson was also fouled on the shot and banked his free throw to give the Bulldogs a 3-0 lead. Union extended their lead, 11-3, scoring six straight. UNA worked their way back to take the lead 17-16 with a 6-0 run of their own.
• The Lions seemed to be pulling away, leading 24-18 with 10 minutes remaining in the first half. The Bulldogs were not going to let that happen as freshmen, Nick Velasquez and Tray Boyd, each bank a shot behind the arc to tie the game, 24-24. In the remaining 10 minutes the score was tied six different times. Union was able to hold on to go into the half leading 43-41.
• Charlie Wilson led all scorers in the first half with 17 points. Union shot 55 percent from the field and 47 percent (7-for-15) from 3-point range in the half.
• Coming back for the second half, UNA managed to tie the Bulldogs, 45-45, but Union started to pull away with a 9-0 run started by Boyd's 3-pointer to take the lead, 56-48. North Alabama scored a couple free throws to break up the run, but the Bulldogs picked up right where they left off scoring nine straight to extend the Union lead to 65-50.
• With five and a half minutes remaining, Union would hold its largest lead of the night by 28 points, 88-60. The large lead would be enough for the Bulldogs to get the victory, 97-76.

 
STAT OF THE GAME
Union's Charlie Wilson posted 30 points to lead the Bulldogs. This is the first time of the season Union has had a player reach 30 points in a game.

TEAM STATS

• Union shot 60 percent from the field, 52 percent (12-for-23) from long range, and 85 percent (17-for-20) from the free throw line.
• North Alabama shot 41 percent from short range, 30 percent (7-for-23) from the arc, and 71 percent (17-for-24) from the foul line.

 
PLAYER STATS

• Charlie Wilson led all scorers with 30 points and 10 rebounds to get his second double-double of the season. Jarad Scott followed with 21 points and eight rebounds. KC Goodwin help Union scorers with eight assists and six points of his own to help Union to the win.
• North Alabama was led by Austin Timms with 15 points and Dimario Jackson with 14 points.

 
UP NEXT
The Bulldogs will host two conference games against Shorter University Thursday, January 12 at 8 p.m. and Lee University Saturday, January 14 at 4 p.m.

-UNION-