VALDOSTA, Ga. - The Union University men's basketball team fell 91-80 at Valdosta State University Thursday evening. Union dropped to 4-3 overall and 0-1 in the Gulf South Conference. No. 6 ranked Valdosta State improved to 5-0 overall and 1-0 in league play.
The first half was a battle between the two teams. The first half featured 13 lead changes as five ties. After a back and forth start, Union was able to take a six point lead, 14-8, following a dunk from
Tylandrius Parks. VSU rallied back and led 22-19 with just over 10 minutes left in the half. Union then used the spark of guard
Payton Stovall to take a pair of 9-point leads. Stovall's 3-pointer with 4:08 left in the half put his team up 37-29. Stovall was 5-of-7 from 3-point range in the game. Two free throws form Stovall on the next possession gave his team the 39-30 lead. The Blazers answered with a 10-0 run to regain the lead. Union did not go away, scoring five of the final seven points of the half to lead 44-42 at the break.
A jumper by
Bryson Butler started the second half for Union to go up 46-42. Union kept at least a six point lead until VSU took a 56-55 lead with 14:08 left in the game. The Blazers never trailed again. Union stayed close, trailing by just four points, 66-62 with 10 minutes left. However, back-to-back 3-pointers from the Blazers pushed their lead to double figures for the first time in the game. Union again did not go away, cutting the deficit to six points, 81-75 with just over three minutes left. VSU pushed back ahead, leading by as many as 14 points late, before taking the 91-80 final.
Union was led by
Payton Stovall with 23 points and seven rebounds.
Samory Gueye added 15 points, while
Terrandus Smith scored 12 points. Union shot 53 percent from the field, 38 percent from long range (9-24), and 77 percent (7-13) from the free throw line.
Valdosta was led by Beau Justice with 26 points. Darrell Jones scored 19 points and Clay Guillozet added 17 points. The Blazers shot 50 percent from the field, 39 percent (7-18) from long range, and 77 percent (24-31) from the free throw line.
Up next for Union is at the University of West Florida, Saturday, December 1 at 4 p.m. Listen on 93.1 FM.
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