JACKSON, Tenn. - The Union University men's basketball team lost 86-72 to the University of West Florida Saturday evening at Fred DeLay Gymnasium, David Blackstock Court. Union dropped 7-8 overall and 3-6 in the Gulf South Conference. West Florida kept its second-place standing with a 14-3 overall record, 7-2 in league play.
The two teams went back and forth early on with two ties and five lead changes. West Florida took the lead for good, 12-10 on a 3-pointer, which started a 24-13 stretch for the Argos, extending the lead to 33-23 with 8:40 left to play in the half. Union powered back with an 11-2 run to pull to within one, 35-34, with 3:18 left. Union got to within one again at 39-38, but UWF did not give up the lead. The Argos closed out the half with two 3-pointers to take a 45-38 lead into the locker room. Union's Mason McBride hit a late three-pointer, but did not get the shot off in time.
Union scored four straight to open the second half to pull within three points, 45-42. West Florida again held off the Union run and began to extend its lead again. A three-pointer with 10:14 left put the Argo lead back to double figures, 62-49. Down 15 with just over five minutes left, Union made one last push, getting to within 10 points. at the 4:46 mark, and again with 2:28 left, 78-68, but could not get any closer. West Florida hit four free throws down the stretch to seal the 86-72 victory.
Union was led by Terrence Ringo, Jr., with 22 points and 15 rebounds for his sixth double-double of the season. Jamiir Allen added 21 points, and Will Lovings-Watts scored 11. Union shot 48 percent from the field, 28 percent (5-18) from 3-point range, and 74 percent (17-23) from the foul line.
West Florida was led by Payne with 17 points and Lazare with 16 points. Wyche and Demings added 12 and 11 points, respectively. The Argos shot 43 percent from the field, 43 percent (10-24) from long range, and 85 percent (22-26) from the free throw line.
Union will hit the road to east and middle Tennessee next week for games at Lee, Thursday, January 15, and 6:30 p.m., and Saturday, January 17, at Trevecca for a 4 p.m. game. Watch live on FloCollege at www.uuathletics.com/coverage.
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