JACKSON, Tenn. - The Union University men's basketball team opened the season with a 68-49 win over Tuskegee University Friday afternoon at Fred DeLay Gymnasium/David Blackstock Court. The game was the second game played at Union as the Bulldogs are hosting the Crossover Classic. Fellow GSC member, Shorter University, knocked off Lane College 83-78 in overtime. 

Union will face Lane Saturday at 4 p.m. at home, while Shorter and Tuskegee will face off at 2 p.m. 

Union pushed out to a 38-35 lead at the half thanks to a solid shooting performance from the field. Union hit 14-of-28 shots for 50 percent including four 3-pointers. 

Union led by as many as 24 points in the second half, the first time coming after a 3-pointer from Tyree Boykin at the 14:10 mark. The final 24-point lead came following a 3-pointer from Hunter Vick with 4:40 left in the game. 

Eight Union players scored in the game. Boykin led with 15 points and three 3-pointers. Tylandrius Parks scored 12 points and Boe Nguidjol added 11 points and a team-high nine rebounds. Vick, Justin Debuck, and Jeremiah Littlepage scored nine, eight, and seven points respectively. Union shot 42 percent from the field, 28 percent (9-32) from long range, and 69 percent (11-16) from the free-throw line. 

Union's defense kept all Tuskegee players out of double figures. The Golden Tigers were led by Devein Booker with nine points. Tuskegee shot 28 percent from the field, 29 percent (4-14) from 3-point range, and 59 percent (17-29) from the free-throw line. 

-UNION-