FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. - The Union University men's basketball team posted a 65-50 win over Miles College in the first round of the NCAA D2 National Championships, South Region. Union, seeded fourth, improved to 24-8 on the season, while fifth seed Miles ended its season at 24-5. 

With the win, Union advanced to the second round of the NCAA D2 National Tournament for the second time in head coach David Niven's career (2015) and third in program history.

Union will face the host team and nation's No. 1 ranked team in division II, Nova Southeastern, Sunday, March 13 at 6:30 p.m. central time. (WATCH)

Union led 25-23 at the half in a very defensive first 20 minutes. Coach Niven called Miles, who allows just over 50 points per game, "a very, very good defensive team". Niven added, ""All night we defended with great intensity and great execution. Ultimately, we were able to overcome some of our offensive deficiencies with great defense." The 50 points allowed was the lowest total give up by Union since 49 to Tuskegee in the first game of the season. 

However, in the second half, Union's offensive came alive while also keeping a tight defensive grip on Miles. Union scored the first 12 points of the second half to push its lead to 37-23 with 14:20 left to play. Miles got a free throw at the 14:05 mark and finally got its first second half field goal with 12:01 left to play. By that time, Union had pushed its lead to the largest lead of the night, 18 points, 42-24. 

During the run, Tyree Boykin's 3-pointer gave Union its first double-digit lead of the night. then a personal 5-0 run by Boe Nguidjol with a couple free throws and a 3-pointer. the run was capped by layup from Tylandrius Parks, giving Union its 18-point lead. 

Union's lead for the rest of the game stayed in double figures. Union came away with the 15-point win. 

In the first half, Union scored first on a basket from Boykin. The game was tied three times in the first half, but Union never trailed. Union led by as many as six in the first half on two occasions, the final time coming 23-17 with 3:48 left following a 3-pointer from Boykin. 

Union was led by Boykin and Jeremiah Littlepage with 17 points each. Tylandrius Parks added 16 points. Nguidjol scored nine points with a team-high eight rebounds. Union shot 44 percent from the field, 29 percent (5-17) from 3-point range, and 86 percent (18-21) from the free throw line. 

Miles was led by Brandon Miller with 15 points and Yasim Hooker with 13 points. The Bears shot 30 percent from the field, 30 percent (6-20) from long range, and 59 percent (10-17) from the free throw line.

-UNION-