CARROLLTON, Ga. - The Union University men's basketball team posted a 91-82 win at the University of West Georgia Thursday evening. Union improved to 11-8 overall and 6-5 in the Gulf South Conference. West Georgia dropped to 11-7 on the season and 6-4 in league play.
Union head coach David Niven said, "Our team showed some growth and we played with toughness tonight. We had several guys make great plays all throughout this game that helped get this win."
Union maintains its hold on eighth place in the GSC standings, currently keeping the Bulldogs in one of the eight spots in the conference tournament in March.
Union's Terrandus Smith and West Georgia's Marquill Smith both scored 31 points in the game, while both teams shot 49 percent from the field.
Union's Smith opened the game with a 3-pointer , but was quickly answered by a 3-pointer from West Georgia's Smith to set the pace of the game. Union's Smith scored again, followed by a 3-pointer from JC Hawkins put the Bulldogs up 8-3 early. West Georgia responded and took control with a 17-3 run, taking a 20-11 lead with 12:19 left. Union, however, kept it close and trailed just 41-37 at the half following a 3-pointer by Hawkins in the final seconds.
West Georgia opened the second half with a 3-pointer from Marquill Smith and used that momentum to push out to its largest lead of the night, 53-42, with 16:31 left. But again, Union showed the ability to rally. Union chipped away and with 8:24 left, a pair of free throws from Payton Stovall tied the game 66-66. Union pushed ahead by five points, 73-58, but West Georgia answered to lead 75-74. However, Hawkins layup gave Union the lead for good, 76-75. The Union lead stayed between 1-3 points over the next four minutes. Then, Stovall hit two free throws with 1:18 left to give Union a five point lead, 84-79. Union hit 7-of-8 three throws in the final 1:18 to seal the win. The nine point lead at the end was Union's largest of the game.
After scoring 37 points in the first half, Union put up 54 second half points to rally for the win. Union shot 50 percent in the second half from the field and were 22-of-29 from the foul line in the second half.
Union was led by Terrandus Smith with 31 points, his second highest game of the season (35 vs. Williams Baptist). Stovall added 16 points with four 3-pointers. Tylandrius Parks recorded his second double-double of the season with 13 points and 15 rebounds. Union shot 49 percent from the field, 38 percent (8-21) from 3-point range, and 71 percent (27-38) from the free throw line.
West Georgia was led by Marquill Smith with 31 points. Willie Barnes scored, Deng Nhial added 11 points, Michael Zabetakis scored 10, and Gerald Blount added 10 points. The Wolves shot 49 percent from the field, 29 percent (6-21) from long range, and 68 percent (10-15) from the free throw line.
Union out-rebounded West Georgia 38-35, while West Georgia won the turnover battle by three, committing 13 to Union's 16.
Union continues the road trip with a game at Shorter University Saturday, January 26 at 3 p.m. central time. Listen on 93.1 FM or online atwww.uuathletics.com/live.
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