CLEVELAND, Miss. - The Union University men's basketball team lost 75-71 Thursday evening at Delta State University. Union dropped to 10-7 overall and 9-4 in the Gulf South Conference. Delta State improved to 5-11 on the season and 4-9 in league play. 

Delta State jumped out to a 4-0 lead and pushed its lead to as many 10 points. Union rallied and tied the game at 29-29, before a 10-0 DSU run extended the lead back to 10 just before the half. Union's Justin Debuck hit a 3-pointer at the buzzer to cut the deficit to seven points. 

In the second half, Union chipped away and tied the game 48-48. Union took its first lead at 50-48. Thanks to back-to-back 3-pointers from Jalen Johnson, Union took its largest lead at 67-60 with 4:21 left to play. That was the last points scored by Union in regulation. Delta State rallied back to tie the game 67-67 and sent it to overtime. 

Overtime belonged to the home Statesmen. DSU scored first on a 3-pointer from Caleb Allen, his sixth of the game after having only made four 3-pointers all season. With 1:21 left in overtime, Union broke its nearly eight-minute scoring drought going back to regulation with a jumper from Boe Nguidjol to bring Union to within one point. DSU answered with five straight points to lead 75-69. Union got a late layup to set the final at 74-71. 

Union was outrebounded 35-25 with the different being a 12-2 advantage on the offensive glass. DSU scored 19 second chance points in the game. 

Union had four players in double figures led by Jeremiah Littlepage with 17 points. Tylandrius Parks added 15, Johnson scored 13, and Debuck added 12. Union shot 52 percent from the field, 38 percent (8-21) from 3-point range, and 78 percent (7-9) from the foul line. 

Delta State was led by Maalik Cartwirght with 28 points, including 16 in the first half. Allen finished with 20 points and Sam Smith scored 15 points with 14 rebounds. The Statesmen shot 44 percent from the field, 41 percent (9-22) from long range, and 71 percent (12-17) from the free throw line. 

Up next for Union is the second of three straight road games, Saturday, January 14 at Mississippi College at 4 p.m. Listen locally on 93.1 FM or online at www.uuathletics.com/coverage. 

-UNION-