CLEVELAND, Miss. - The Union University men's basketball team defeated Delta State University 79-74 Saturday afternoon. Union improved to 4-2 on the season and in Gulf South Conference play. Delta State dropped to 0-2 overall and in league play. 

The win was the second of the weekend at Delta State as the Bulldog won Friday night's contest 92-79. 

Union head coach David Niven said, "We are thankful to be playing. It is difficult to beat anybody twice in a row, even harder against a good team, and even harder than that on the road. I'm proud of our guys. We are going to continue to get better as the season progresses. We played eight guys this weekend and seven of them scored in double figures. We probably have 9 guys that could start, and we are learning to play together with a bunch of unselfish guys. Everyone contributed to these wins but I'm just thankful we are getting to play!"

Just like last night, Union scored first, this time on a bucket from Justin Debuck. Following a 3-point play by Jeremiah Littlepage with 16:48 left in the first half, Union had stretched its lead to 13-1. Union led by as many as 14 points twice in the first half, before DSU trimmed the deficit down to just four at the break, 38-34. 

Early in the second half, Delta State continued to cut into the lead and at the 12:28 mark, took its first lead of the game, 49-48. DSU led by as many as five points, but a Tylandrius Parks jumper tied the game 60-60 with 7:13 left. Union never trailed again. Union pushed its late lead up to as many as seven points before DSU tied the game again at 70-70 with 2:12 left. However, Union was 5-of-5 from the free-throw line, including a 3-point play from Dusan Djordjevic with 24 seconds left to push Union to the 79-74 final. 

Union was led by Debuck with 19 points. JC Clausi added 14 points and was perfect from the field, hitting all four shots including 2-of-2 from 3-point range. Tylandrius Parks finished with 12 points and JC Hawkins scored 10. Hunter Vick finished with eight points, nine rebounds, and four assists. Union shot 54 percent from the field, 44 percent (7-16) from 3-point range, and 76 percent (16-21) from the free-throw line. 

Delta State was led by Maalik Cartwright with 21 points and 11 rebounds. Jaylen Lemons added 19 points, Michael Motley 16 points, and Airen Brooks finished with a double-double of 14 points and 10 boards. The Statesmen shot 45 percent from the field, 46 percent (10-22) from long range, and 56 percent (10-18) from the free-throw line.  

Delta State outrebounded Union 33-39, including 13-7 offensively. Union committed 13 turnovers to 12 from DSU. 

Union is scheduled to face West Alabama at home next weekend, January 15-16. 

-UNION-