JACKSON, Tenn. – Playing shorthanded without leading scorer CJ Jackson, the Union Bulldogs fell 57-56 to CBU on Thursday night in the Fred DeLay Gymnasium.
 
In a game that featured 16 lead changes and four ties, CBU took the final lead on a Tane Kirisome three-pointer with just under two minutes to play. Union went scoreless over the final 2:58 and failed to convert a field goal in the concluding five minutes of the game.
 
Union falls to 11-9 (7-7) and fifth place in the GSC, while the visiting Buccaneers now sit at 8-12 (4-10) and are tied for tenth.
 
Jeremiah Littlepage led Union with 23 points on 9-11 shooting and had seven rebounds, while Kaleim Taylor scored 12. Judson Bjornstad approached a double-double with eight points and nine boards.
 
Kirisome (15), Christian Thompson (14), and Iman Kheirati (10) led CBU's scoring. Kheirati, the GSC rebounding leader, collected 15 ricochets in his season's ninth double-double.
 
Union allowed its highest offensive rebounding total in GSC play (18) and highest overall rebounding total of the season (45), losing despite out-shooting the Bucs .411 to .333.
 
The Bulldogs will be back at the Fred DeLay Gymnasium next week for Thursday and Saturday matchups with Montevallo and Auburn-Montgomery.
 
-UNION-