JACKSON, Tenn. – The Union University men's basketball team fell to Delta State University Friday night 90-72. Union dropped to 8-5 on the season and in the Gulf South Conference while Delta State improved to 4-6 overall and in conference play. 

Union swept the two games played at Delta State earlier in the year, 92-79 and 79-74.

Union opened the game with a 3-pointer from Tylandrius Parks, followed by a layup from Jeremiah Littlepage to lead 5-0. Delta State responded with an 11-0 run to take the lead. Following a DSU 3-pointer at the 9:22 mark, the Statesmen led Union 25-10, forcing a Bulldog timeout. DSU's largest lead of the first half was 28-12. Union rallied with an 8-2 run to cut the deficit to 30-20, but DSU maintained at least a double-digit lead and extended the cushion back to a 15-point lead, 37-22. Union got to within 10 points again following a 3-pointer from Hunter Vick, but Delta State managed a 46-32 lead at the break. The Statesmen shot 54 percent from the field, while both teams were 5-of-13 (39%) from 3-point range. 

The Statesmen led by as many as 18 points, 50-32, early in the second half. The Bulldogs responded with 13 points from Vick and seven additional points from Littlepage, JC Hawkins, and Jusitn Debuck as a part of a 20-5 run to cut the lead to three points, 55-52, with 13:02 left to play. The Statesmen stopped the Union rallied and outscored the Bulldogs 35-20 in the remainder of the half to earn the 90-72 win.   

Union was led by Vick with a career-high 31 points. Parks led with a season-high 10 rebounds while Debuck dished out five assists and Littlepage had three blocks. Union shot 48 percent from the field, 44 percent (12-27) from long range, and 31 percent (4-13) from the free throw line. 

Delta State was led by Michael Motley with 27 points and 11 rebounds. The Statesmen shot 56 percent from the field, 57 percent (13-23) from 3-point range, and 43 percent (3-7) from the foul line. 

These two teams will play again, Saturday at 3 p.m. at Union.

-UNION-