JACKSON, Tenn. - The Union University men's basketball team posted a 69-68 victory over Shorter University Thursday night at Fred DeLay Gymnasium/David Blackstock Court. Union improved to 9-6 overall and 8-3 in the Gulf South Conference. Shorter dropped to 3-12 on the season and 1-8 in league play. 

Union led by 13 at the break, but it was Shorter coming out on fire. Over the first 11 minutes of the half, Shorter outscored Union 29-10 to take a lead of 60-54. Shorter's first lead of the night (55-54) came following a layup from Raphael Haussou with 10:12 left in the game. 

With Union down by seven, 63-56, the Bulldogs posted a 7-0 run including a 3-pointer from Jalen Johnson, to tie the game at 63-63. Shorter, however, again pushed its lead to five points, 68-63, with 4:36 left. With Union's offense sputtering, the Bulldog defense took over. Shorter was held scoreless in the final four minutes, 36 seconds. Boe Nguidjol scored four straight points to get Union to within one with 1:41 left to play. After a couple of empty possessions from both teams, Union's Tylandrius Parks was fouled with 10 seconds left and sank both free throws to give Union the 69-68 lead. Then, following his two big free throws, he blocked a 3-point attempt from Shorter late in the game to preserve the win. 

Union opened the game with a 3-pointer from Park, and promptly Shorter answered with a 3-pointer. Johnson then hit a 3-pointer to put Union up 6-3 and the Bulldogs led for the remainder of the half. Following another 3-pointer from Parks at the 14:03 mark, Union had pushed its lead to double figures, 18-8. Justin Debuck hit a 3-pointer to put Union up 14 points with just over two minutes left in the half. Then, Layne Sarver got a putback with just over a minute to play to give Union its largest lead of the game, 42-27. Shorter cut the deficit to 13 with a couple of late free throws and Union led 44-31 at the half. 

Union's Johnson, coming off his career-high 21 points on seven made 3-points in the game at UAH, led all scorer's with 10 points in the first half with a couple of 3-pointers. Union shot 48 percent from the field in the first half, including 47 percent (8-17) from 3-point range, and made all eight free throws. 

Following a good shooting first half, just survived just 36 percent shooting from the field in the second half, including only 19 percent (3-16) from three. 

Union was led by Nguidjol with 19 points and eight rebounds. The reigning 2-time TSWA Player of the Week, Parks, added 15 points with four assists, four rebounds, and three blocks. Johnson finished with 13 points. Union shot 42 percent from the field, 33 percent (11-33), and 83 percent (10-12) from the free throw line. 

Shorter was led by Knight with 20 points, Wilcox with 14 points, and Brown with 12 points. The Hawks shot 39 percent from the field, 21 percent (6-28) from 3-point range, and 83 percent (10-12) from the free throw line. 

Union will face GSC leader, Lee University Saturday at 4 p.m. at Fred DeLay Gymnasium. 

-UNION-