LEBANON, Ill. – The Union University men's basketball team lost a heart-breaker 80-78 at McKendree University Tuesday evening. Union dropped to 4-1 on the season, while McKendree improved to 1-3.
 
Union's Tylandrius Parks gave Union a 78-77 lead with three seconds left on a free throw. However, Nate Michael hit a guarded three pointer from half court to give the Bearcats the win.
 
The game featured eight ties and 11 lead changes. Union's largest lead was seven, while McKendree's largest lead was nine points.
 
For the third time in five games this year for Union, Tyree Boykin scored at least 29 points in a game. In the loss at McKendree Tuesday, Boykin got 30 points, including 6-of-11, from 3-point range. Parks was the only other Bulldog in double figures with 17 points and a team high nine rebounds. Seven total players scored in the game for Union, all seven getting at least five points in the game. 
 
Union trailed by as many as nine points three times in the second half, the last time was 54-45 with 14:41 left in the game. Union rallied back and tied the game 56-56 with 11:59 left on a basket from Boykin. The teams swapped a couple of baskets and then Boykin hit a 3-pointer to put Union up 61-58 with 9:52 left to play. Union held the lead until the final minute. Union led by as many as seven points down the stretch, 69-62, with 4:20 left. McKendree tied the game at 75-75 with 45 seconds left. Parks hit a layup for Union, followed by a McKendree layup with 21 seconds left and the game was tied 77-77. Parks was fouled with three second left and gave Union the brief lead until the miracle shot by the home team.
 
The first half was back and forth early. Then McKendree took an eight point lead before Union rallied back. Union took the lead 35-33 with a minute left in the half. The a 3-pointer from McKendree with 44 seconds left in the first half, put the Bearcats up 36-35 at the break.
 
Union shot 53 percent from the field, 36 percent (8-22) from 3-point range, and 67 percent (8-12) from the free throw line.
 
McKendree had four players in double figures led by Bass with 17 and Offard with 15. Gerling added 12 points and Michael scored 10, including the game-winning 3-pointer at the buzzer. The Bearcats shot 45 percent from the field, 39 percent (9-23) from long range, was a perfect 13-of-13 from the free throw line.
 
Up next for Union will be a home non-conference game Saturday, November 24 at 4 p.m. versus Southern Arkansas.
 
-UNION-