MONTGOMERY, Ala. - The Union University men's basketball team lost 86-80 Thursday night. Union dropped to 12-11 overall and 11-8 in the Gulf South Conference. Auburn Montgomery improved to 12-12 on the season and 10-10 in the league. 

The loss was Union's third straight and it marked the third straight game that Union has allowed a team to shoot over 50 percent from the field.

The Bulldogs remain in sixth place in the GSC standings with five regular season games left to play. 

Union opened the game with a 5-0 run and maintained a small lead for the first five and a half minute, leading 14-11 with 14:36 left in the first half. AUM then got back-to-back three points, two of its five three pointers in the first half to go up by three. AUM led by as many as 11 points in the first half, 33-22. Union then rallied back thanks to a 13-2 run capped by a 3-pointer from Justin Debuck to tied the game 35-35 with 53 seconds left. AUM closed out the half with four points to lead 39-35. 

AUM shot 62 percent from the field and 56 percent (5-9) from 3-point range in the first half. Union was at 44 percent from the field and 40 percent (4-10) from long range in the first 20 minutes. Union's Boe Nguidjol led with 14 points and Dubuck had 10 points at the break.

In the second half, AUM again built a double-digit lead thanks to more hot shooting. AUM pushed its lead to as many as 16 points in the game, 71-55, with 7:18 left in the game. 

However, just as in the first half, Union stormed back and cut the deficit to just two points, 81-79, in the final minute. Union's 9-2 run inside the final minute was started with back-to-back 3-pointers from Ivan Prug in the span of 10 seconds. Union could not get over the hump and lost 86-80. 

Union was led by freshman Ivan Prug with a career high 22 points including 6-of-11 from the 3-point line. Boe Nguidjol added 18 points and nine rebounds. Debuck scored 17 points and Parks added 12 points and nine rebounds. Ten of Parks' 12 points came in the second half. Union shot 47 percent from the field, 46 percent (11-24) from 3-point range, and 65 percent (13-20) from the foul line. 

Auburn Montgomery was led by Anderson and Lanzi with 18 points each. Youngblood scored 14, Graham 12 points, and Smith with 10 points and 10 rebounds. The Warhawks shot 57 percent from the field, 56 percent (10-18) from long range, and 78 percent (14-18) from the free throw line. 

Up next for Union will be the second of a 2-game road trip, Saturday at 4 p.m. at Montevallo. Listen locally on 93.1 FM or on Union's coverage page. 

-UNION-