JACKSON, Tenn. - The Union University men's basketball team lost 78-73 to Auburn University Montgomery Saturday afternoon at Fred DeLay Gymnasium/David Blackstock Court. Union dropped to 12-3 overall and 6-1 in the Gulf South Conference. Auburn Montgomery improved to 6-9 on the season and 3-4 in league play. 

The win for AUM snapped a 7-game GSC regular-season winning streak for Union. It was also AUM's third straight win in league play after starting the season 0-4.

Tylandrius Parks had sparked Union early, scoring eight of Union's first 10 points, including two 3-pointers. In the early going, both teams went back and forth, with neither team leading by more than three points. AUM then pushed its lead out to 23-19 with eight minutes left. Union answered with a 5-0 run capped by a 3-pointer from Boe Nguidjol to take a brief lead. AUM again pushed out to a lead, this time by five points, 29-24, with just under five minutes to play in the half. JC Clausi stopped the run with a 3-pointer, but AUM led 33-29 with 1:28 left in the half. Union's Tyree Boykin scored four straight points for Union on a layup and two free throws to tie the game at 33-33 at the half. 

Nguidjol led Union with 11 points and the half, while AUM's Hart led all scorers with 14 points at the break. 

AUM started the second half with hot shooting, hitting five of its first six 3-pointers. AUM outscored Union 23-14 over the first eight minutes of the second half to lead 56-44. Union answered with eight straight points to cut the deficit to just one point, 56-55. However, Graham of AUM hit his fourth 3-pointer of the game followed by a bucket from Bozeman and AUM had pushed its lead back to 61-55 with 7:21 left in the game.  
   
Union kept battling back and with 3:15 left following 1-of-2 free throws from Parks, tied the game at 69-69. AUM answered with another basket to go back in front. AUM 7-8 free throws in the final 76 seconds of the game to seal the win. Union did not make a field goal in the final 4:07 of the game.

AUM shot a blazing 56 percent from the field and 75 percent (6-8) in the second half to give Union its first GSC loss of the season.

Union was led by Nguidjol with 23 points. Parks scored 16 and Boykin finished with 15 points. Union shot 43 percent from the field, 32 percent (6-19) from 3-point range, and 90 percent (17-19) from the free-throw line. 

Auburn Montgomery was led by Graham with 28 points including 4-of-5 from 3-point range. Hart scored 19 points and Smith added 10 points. AUM shot 49 percent from the field, 54 percent (7-13) from long range, and 64 percent (9-14). 


Up next for Union will be a two-game road trip to Montevallo and Alabama Huntsville, January 13 and January 15. Listen locally on 101.5 FM or online at www.uuathletics.com/coverage. 

-UNION-