CLARKSVILLE, Tenn. - The Union University men's basketball lost 99-95 in an exhibition game at Austin Peay State University Thursday night. 

Tyree Boykin had a great showing in his first game back since November of last season. The former GSC Freshman of the Year finished with 42 points in front of a hometown crowd in Clarksville. 

Both teams were cold to start the game, with Union going 0-7 going into the under-16 media timeout, Austin Peay leading 9-2. Out of the break, Boykin connected on his first of seven three-pointers freshman Cooper Meadows sparked a rally for the Bulldogs, recording a block on Austin Peay's Sam Devault leading to a layup by JC Hawkins on the other end to cut the deficit to two.

Both teams would begin to heat up from the field following the under-12 media timeout. The Governors maintained the lead for the majority of the half, with Terry Taylor, the Ohio Valley Conference Preseason Player of the Year, scoring four straight to push Austin Peay's lead to six at the under-four break. After the Governors increased the lead to seven, Tyree Boykin drilled three straight three-pointers on three straight possessions to once again cut the lead down to two. Taylor countered with seven straight points and Austin Peay led Union at the half, 46-40. Boykin led all scorers at the break with 21 points on 7-13 shooting.

The Bulldogs slumped to start the second half, with the Governors doubling their lead to 12, 62-50. That proved to be the largest deficit of the game for Union, as they continued to rally back, going on an 11-2 run on the heels of five straight points by Meadows. Going into the under-12 timeout, Union trailed 64-61. Both teams then traded baskets, but the Governors once more took a double-digit lead, 83-72 with six and a half minutes left in the second half. The Bulldogs cut it to six after field goals by Bryson Butler and LiDonta Hicks-Gentry, but the Governors again pulled ahead, 91-80 with under two and a half minutes to play.

The Bulldogs made one last effort to get back into the game, being sparked by a Payton Stovall three from the top of the key. After a turnover, Tylandrius Parks made an acrobatic layup to cut the Governors' lead to six. However, an and-one by Jordyn Adams would push the lead back to nine. A quick 5-0 run by the Bulldogs would pull them to within four, but it was too late as the Governors continued to knock down free-throws when it counted to win 99-95.

"I think what we wanted out of this game was a chance to play against someone really good and find out where are [our] strengths and weaknesses," Union head coach David Niven said. "I feel like we gave ourselves a chance, we just got killed on the glass and missed some key free throws down the stretch. I think there is a lot to be hopeful about this team. This was a good test for us."

A sophomore (Boykin) and a freshman (Meadows) led Union in scoring in the game. Boykin finished with 42 points on 13-27 shooting (7-15 from three) in 35 minutes. Meadows scored 14 points includng 4-of-8 from 3-point range. Nine of the 10 players that played for Union scored with eight players getting five or more points. 

"I just thank God for being able to play again," Boykin said. "My teammates had faith in me, my coaches had faith in me, we got back to this point, I just performed at a high level and it was all thanks to them."

"Obviously, we're thrilled to have him back," Niven said of Boykin. "It was tough for our team last year to lose him, but we're excited that he's back."

This was the first meeting between these two teams since December 10, 1974, where the Governors won 62-55. Austin Peay was selected to finish third in the Ohio Valley Conference with one first-place vote. Union was picked fourth in the GSC with one first-place vote. 

The Bulldogs will host Bulldog Madness Friday, November 1 at the Fred DeLay Gymnasium at 7:00 before hosting Rhodes College in the final exhibition matchup of the preseason Saturday, November 2 at 4:00.