JACKSON, Tenn. - The Union University men's basketball team lost to the University of West Florida, 75-61, Saturday night at Fred DeLay Gymnasium. Union dropped to 8-8 on the season and 2-6 in the Gulf South Conference. West Florida, ranked No. 15 by in the NABC Coaches' Poll and No. 14 in the D2SIDA Media Poll, improved to 15-1 overall and 6-1 in conference play. 

Charlie Wilson opened the game for Union with a three point play, but West Florida's Dj Thorpe quickly tied the score with a shot from beyond the arc. Wilson then took back the lead with a layup, and Thorpe responded with another three-pointer. With the exception of a 14-14 tie, West Florida held the lead the rest of the way. Union stayed close, with West Florida only getting their lead up to six points, before settling for a 40-35 lead at the break. 

Thorpe scored West Florida's first six points of the second half extending the Argonaut's lead to 11 points. Union got as close as eight points, but the Argos used a pair of 8-0 runs to get their lead up to as many as 20 points, 65-45, with 6:54 left. Union posted an 8-0 run to get back to within 12 points, but the comeback was stopped by a Darryl Tucker dunk for West Florida. The Argos outscored Union 10-5 over the final three and a half minutes to take the 75-61 win. 

Union was led by Wilson with 18 points and 14 rebounds. Velasquez added 16 points. The Bulldogs were 43 percent from the field, 29 percent (8-27) from beyond the arc, and 73 percent (11-15) from the foul line. 

West Florida was led by Thorpe with 22 points, 8 rebounds, and 5 steals. Tucker had 16 points and Jones added 15 points. The Argonauts were 44 percent from the field, 31 percent (6-19) from the three-point range, and 67 percent (19-28) from the free throw line. 

Up next for Union is a home game against Valdosta State University, Monday, January 15 at 6 p.m. Listen on 93.1 FM, watch on Eplus TV 6, or online at www.uuathletics.com/live. 

-UNION-