FLORENCE, Ala. - The Union University men's basketball team lost 82-78 at the University of North Alabama Saturday afternoon. Union dropped to 8-6 on the season and 2-4 in the Gulf South Conference. North Alabama improved to 8-6 overall and 3-4 in league play. 

Union trailed by double figure in both halves, but rallied each time to take a lead. Union head coach David Niven said, "I extremely proud of the guys in that locker room. They showed great heart tonight to keep battling to give us a chance to win. I'm not sure many teams could have come back twice the way our guys did tonight."

Tonight's game also marked the first men's game between Union and North Alabama in Florence that was not decided by double figures. Dating back to January 2013, UNA won the first three meetings at home by double figures, while Union won the last two year in Florence by double figures.

Union scored the first basketball of the game but North Alabama responded to lead 22-5 with 13:27 left in the first half. Union got back to within 11 points, before UNA jumped back up to their largest lead of the game of 18 points, 31-13, with 8:36 left in the half.  Union closed out the final eight minutes of the half by outscoring UNA 27-14 to get to within five points, 45-40, at halftime. 

Union continued their momentum from the first half with five straight points to start the second half, tying the game at 45-45. Union got their first lead of the game since 2-0 when Todd Barnes hit a 3-pointer to put Union up 48-47. After a 3-pointer from UNA, Barnes hit another 3-pointer and Union led 51-50 with 16:41 left to play. However, North Alabama went on a 9-0 run and scored 14 of the next 16 points in the game to go back up by double figures, 64-53, with 12:05 left in the game. 

Union again rallied and following a 3-point play from Charlie Wilson, Union had tied the game at 69-69 with 6:50 left to play. A layup from Barnes put Union up 71-69 on the next possession. But UNA answered with four straight points to regain the lead. Union tied the game at 76-76 and then trailed 79-78 with 2:28 left to play. Neither team scored for the next two minutes. Then with 18 seconds left, North Alabama's Jeff Hodge hit a 3-pointer to seal the win. Union missed on a couple of late shots and lost 82-78.  

Union was led by Wilson with 24 points. Pedro Da Silva added a double-double with 16 points and 10 rebounds, while Barnes also scored 16 points.Union shot 47 percent from the field, 31 percent (5-16) from long range, and 83 percent (19-23) from the free throw line. Union out rebounded UNA 44-30. 

North Alabama had six players in double figures led by Sharwyn McGee with 17 points. Hodge and Kendaries Smith both scored 14 points. Kendall Stafford added 12 points, Adrian Smith 11, and Trenton Clayton 10 points. The Lions shot 43 percent from the field, 50 percent (10-20) from long range, and 70 percent (16-23) from the free throw line. 

Up next for Union will be a second straight road game, Tuesday, January 9 at Alabama Huntsville at 8 p.m.

-UNION-