MONTGOMERY, Ala. - The Union University men's basketball team posted an 86-83 win at Auburn University Montgomery Saturday afternoon. Union improved to 17-4 overall and a league best 11-2 in the Gulf South Conference. Auburn Montgomery dropped to 7-13 overall and 4-8 in league play. 

Union avenged an earlier home loss to AUM with a big second half. Union has now won three straight games. 

In the second half, Union shot a blazing 68 percent from the field and 67 percent (6-of-9) from 3-point range. Union also hit 82 percent of its free throws (14-17) in the second half, including going 7-of-7 in the final two minutes to help seal the win. 

AUM led by as many as eight points early in the second half. Union kept it close and then took a brief lead. The teams went back and forth until just under three minutes left to play. AUM took a 74-73 lead with 4:02 left. Union then got a 3-pointer from JC Clausi with 3:43 left to go up 76-74. Union led the rest of the way. Tyree Boykin was fouled on a 3-point attempt with 2:18 left and hit all three free throws to put Union up 79-74. AUM scored three more baskets in the final two minutes, but Union's Boe Nguidjol had an answer each time, scoring Union's final seven points. Nguidjol hit two free throws to put Union up 81-76. AUM cut the Union lead to 81-80 with 41 seconds left. Nguidjol hit a 3-pointer with 34 seconds left to put Union up 84-80. AUM followed with a 3-pointer, but Nguidjol's two final free throws with seven seconds left gave Union the 86-83 lead. AUM's Hart, who finished with 32 points, missed a game tying 3-point attempt at the buzzer. 

AUM opened the game with five straight points and led 12-4 after three minutes of play. AUM led by eight points a couple time early in the game, but Union rallied to tie the game at 22-22. Union then pushed its lead to as many as eight points, 30-22, with 5:30 left in the half. This was Union's largest lead of the game, capping a 16-0 run. Union, however, could not hold the lead as AUM took a 38-32 lead into the locker room. 

Union was led by Tyree Boykin with 27 points including 4-of-7 from 3-point range. Boe Nguidjol added 20 points, going 12-of-17 from the free throw line. Tylandrius Parks scored 15 for Union. The Bulldogs shot 56 percent from the field, 45 percent (9-20) from long range, and 75 percent (21-28) from the free throw line. 

AUM was led by Hart with 32 points, including 3-of-5 from 3-point range. Graham added 16 points and Bozeman scored 14 points. The Warhawks shot 49 percent from the field, 44 percent (7-16) from 3-point range, and 91 percent (10-11) from the free throw line. 

Up next for Union will be a home game, February 2 at 7:30 p.m. versus West Georgia. 

-UNION-