CLINTON, Miss. - The Union University men's basketball team lost a tough one Saturday afternoon, 81-75, at Mississippi College. Union dropped to 4-3 overall and 1-1 in the Gulf South Conference. Mississippi College improved to 5-3 on the season and 2-0 in league play. 

Union led for the majority of the game, including by as many as 10 points in the first half and seven points in the second half. However, Union could never put the Choctaws away. Union held a 71-66 lead with just over six minutes left in the game. MC made one final push with a 5-0 run to tie the game at 71-71. Union answered a couple of times, but MC tied the game again at 73-73 and 75-75.

MC took its first lead of the second half, and its first since it was 8-6, with a couple of free throws to lead 77-75 with 54 seconds left. Union did not score again, and MC sank 6-of-6 free throws in the final minute to seal the win. 

Union managed three separate 10-point leads in the first half, but MC rallied to tie the game at 36-36. Union led at the half, 38-36. 

Union was led by Will Lovings-Watts with 24 points and Sam Youngblood with 12 points. Terrance Ringo, Jr. led with 10 rebounds. Union shot 41 percent from the field, 32 percent (9-28) from 3-point range, and 83 percent (10-12) from the free throw line. 

MC was led by three players reaching the 20-point mark, including Bridges (24), Nelson (22), and Powe (20). MC shot 54 percent from the field, 44 percent (7-16) from long range, and 94 percent (16-17) from the free throw line. 

Up next for Union will be the first of three home games before the Christmas Break. First up with be the final non-conference regular season game of the year, Thursday, December 11 at 7 p.m., versus Blue Mountain Christian University. General Admission seating is free courtesy of FirstBank, reserved seating can be purchased in the lobby for $10. 

-UNION-