JACKSON, Tenn. - The Union University men's basketball team posted a 79-62 win over the University of Montevallo Tuesday night in the Gulf South Conference Tournament Quarterfinals presented by TicketSmarter. Second-seeded Union improved to 22-7 on the season, while 7-seed Montevallo ended its season with a 13-16 record. 

The win was victory number 22 on the season, matching the program's NCAA D2 high win total dating back to the 1967-68 season when Union went 22-3. That season, Union advanced to the NCAA region title game, before falling to the eventual national champion, Kentucky Wesleyan. 

Union head coach David Niven said, "I thought our guys and our students showed a lot of determination that we were not going to lose this game tonight. That was the best half of defense we've played all season."

Union outscored the Falcons 40-20 in the second half. 

Union and Montevallo played a close first half with the Falcons holding a small lead for most of the half. Union was in danger of going into the locker room down by six. However, a 3-pointer at the buzzer from Tylandrius Parks set the halftime deficit for Union at 42-39. 

Montevallo still was able to keep a small lead for the first nine minutes of the second half. Union tied the game three times, but finally regained its first lead since early in the first half at 58-56 following two free throws from Boe Nguidjol.

That was all it took as Union posted a 21-4 run, including 14 straight points at one point to blow the game open. Union kept pushing took its largest lead of the night with the 17-point final. 

Union was led by Parks with 21 points. Tyree Boykin and Nguidjol each added 18 points. Union shot 53 percent from the field, 35 percent (6-17) from 3-point range, and was a perfect 15-for-15 from the free throw line.

Montevallo was led by Braxton Bertolette with 21 points. James McNeil added 15 and Xavier Malcom score 12 points. The Falcons shot 38 percent from the field, 35 percent (8-23) from long range, and 86 percent (12-14) from the free throw line. 

Union now moves on to the GSC Semifinals for the third time since joining the GSC. The Bulldogs will face 3-seed Lee Saturday, March 5 at 7:15 p.m. at the Pete Hanna Center on the campus of Samford University. Union and Lee split the two regular season meetings with each team winning on its home floor. 

Listen locally on 101.5 FM or online at www.uuathletics.com/coverage. 

-UNION-