HUNTSVILLE, Ala. - The Union University men's basketball team fell 73-61 at No. 10 the University of Alabama in Huntsville. Union dropped to 9-6 overall and in Gulf South Conference West play. Alabama Huntsville improved to 12-1 on the season and 12-0 in league play.
Both Union and Alabama Huntsville had already clinched a berth in the GSC Tournament in two weeks. However, the win for UAH clinched the No. 1 seed in the GSC West. Union remained in second place in the GSC West standings.
Union opened the game with a 3-pointer from
Justin Debuck and then a jumper from
Hunter Vick to lead 5-0. Alabama Huntsville scored seven straight points to take its first lead. Vick drained a 3-pointer to put Union back on top, 8-7. A three-pointer from Debuck and
JC Clausi on two consecutive possessions put Union up 14-10. The first 10 minutes of the first half were back-and-forth with 10 lead changes and three ties. Union's last lead of the first game was 20-19 with 10:38 left in the first half. Union tied the game at 21-21, but UAH was able to pull out to a 38-31 lead with 56 seconds left in the half. When it appeared that UAH was taking momentum into the locker room, Union got a three-pointer from Tylandruis Parks, forced a UAH turnover, and then a three-pointer at the buzzer from
JC Hawkins. Union cut the halftime deficit to just 38-37.
Union was 8-of-17 from long range in the first half.
UAH scored five of the first six points of the second half to lead by six. Union answered with a 3-pointer from Debuck to cut the deficit to 43-41. Alabama Huntsville then posted a 12-0 run, spanning just over five minutes, to extend the lead to double digits for the first time in the game, 53-41.
Jeremiah Littlepage stopped the run with Union's first basket since the 16-minute mark. However, UAH extended its lead again with a 3-pointer and a pair of free throws to lead 58-43. UAH's run turned into a dominant 12 minutes of basketball where the Chargers outscored Union 25-6. UAH led 63-43 at the 8:15 mark following another 3-pointer. UAH led by as many as 24 points, 69-45 with 5:16 left. Union got a 3-pointer from Clausi and a layup from Littlepage to get the deficit back under 20 at 69-50 at the final media timeout. After an almost two-minute scoring drought for both teams, Union's Vick hit a 3-pointer to cut the Union deficit to 69-53 with 2:46 left. With 39 seconds left, Union's Clausi hit a 3-pointer to cut the deficit to 12 points, 70-58. UAH and Union both hit 3-pointers in the final 13 seconds, with Hawkins 3-pointer at the buzzer setting the final score at 73-61.
Union was led by Debuck and Clausi with 17 points each. Vick finished with 10 points and a team-high eight rebounds and four assists. Union shot 39 percent from the field, 39 percent (13-33) from 3-point range, and 33 percent (2-of-6) from the free throw line.
UAH won the battle of the boards 38-29 and the turnover battle, forcing 14 Union turnovers to 12 from the Chargers.
Alabama Huntsville was led by Sam Orf with 14 points. Seth Swalve added 13 points and JJ Kapllan scored 12 points with 10 rebounds. The Chargers shot 47 percent from the field, 41 percent (11-27) from long range, and 67 percent (12-18) from the free throw line.
The same two teams will play again February 21 at 3 p.m. in Huntsville in the final game of the 4-game season series. UAH leads the season series 3-0.
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