CLINTON, Miss. – The Union University men's basketball team fell 69-65 at Mississippi College in their first Gulf South Conference game of the season Thursday night. The Bulldogs dropped to 4-3 on the season and 0-1 in the GSC, while Mississippi College improved to 3-2 overall and 1-0 in conference.
 
The first points of the game were not scored until three and a half minutes into the game when Mississippi College's Stacey Mack made a layup. Pedro Da Silva responded with a lay up on the other end for Union. The teams went back and forth until another long two minutes of scoreless play. MC's Harvey broke the silence with a three and Union's freshman JC Hawkins responded with back-to-back threes. Hawkins hit another three at the 2:28 minute mark, which was the last time Union scored in the first half. The Choctaws chiseled away at Union's lead and went into the half up by one, 33-32.

Hawkins led for Union at the half scoring 14 points and shooting 4-of-7 from behind the arc. No one else on the team had more than six points at the half. The team shot 38.2 percent from the field. 

The second half was controlled by Mississippi College with the Choctaws leading the majority of the half. Their largest lead was 10 points, 56-46, with just over 12 minutes left to play. Union slowly came back and took a brief 65-64 lead with one minute left when Union's Todd Barnes scored on a reverse layup. Da Silva received his fifth foul on the trip back down the floor and Union's Tevin Florent fouled out right after him. MC took advantage of the free throw line as they did not make a field goal in the last five and a half minutes of the game, but scored seven  out of 10 attempts at the free throw line. Union did not score in the final minute, going 0-for-2 from 3-point range during that stretch. 

Union was lead by Da Silva with 15 points, 15 rebounds, three assists, and two blocks. Todd Barnes had his first double-double of the season with 13 points and 10 rebounds. Hawkins ended the game with 14 points, all coming in the first half. Reigning GSC Freshman of the Week, Florent was scoreless in the first half, but added 10 points in the second half helping to spark the comeback. Union shot 39 percent from the field, 35 percent (9-26) from long range, and 67 percent (6-9) from the free throw line. 

Mississippi College was led by Xavion Dillon with 16 points, nine rebounds, and three blocks. Antonio Johnson added 11 points, while Mack contributed 10 points and 14 rebounds. The Choctaws shot 37 percent from the field, 33 percent (7-21) from 3-point range, and 70 percent (16-23) from the free throw line. 

Up next for Union is Delta State as they travel to Cleveland, Miss. Saturday, December 2 at 4 p.m. Listen on 93.1 FM or online at www.uuathletics.com/live. 

-UNION-