JACKSON, Tenn. - The Union University men's basketball team defeated Mississippi College 74-68 Thursday night at Fred DeLay Gymnasium, David Blackstock Court. Union improved to 8-10 overall and 4-8 in the Gulf South Conference. Mississippi College dropped to 9-9 on the season and 6-6 in league play.
Union evened the season series with MC after the Choctaws won 81-75 on their home floor in December.
The game started with both teams matching shots, and at the 12:39 mark, the score was tied 11-11. Union then took control, outscoring MC 26-8 over the remainder of the half to build a 33-16 lead going into the locker room. Casey Williams led Union with 11 first-half points, nine of those coming during that run. Union shot 49 percent from the field in the first half, dominating inside with 24 points in the paint. Union also got 26 points off the bench in the first half.
In the second half, Union pushed its lead to the largest of the game at 58-37, with 12:25 left to play. Union led again by 19 points following a 3-pointer from Mason McBride with 8:28 left to put Union up 63-44. MC, however, was not done. The Choctaws started to rally as the Bulldogs went cold. Over the next seven and a half minutes, MC outscored Union 16-1 to cut the Union lead down to just six points, 64-60, with 3:19 left to play.
Union slowed the run with a pair of free throws by Sam Youngblood, and then a dunk from Terrence Ringo, Jr. The Bulldogs were back up by six, 68-62, with 1:53 left. Ringo's dunk snapped a six-minute field goal drought for the Bulldogs.
After the two teams swapped free throws, MC cut the Union lead to just four points, 71-67, with 16 seconds left. Union and MC both swapped one free throw, and then McBride sealed the win for Union with two free throws with two seconds left. The Bulldogs won 74-68.
Union was led by Ringo with 16 points and eight rebounds. Williams and McBride added 11 points each, while Youngblood scored 10. Jamiir Allen also had eight rebounds. Union shot 43 percent from the field, 22 percent (6-27) from 3-point range, and 73 percent (16-22) from the free throw line.
Mississippi College was led by Johnson with 19 points and Holman with 14 points. Powe scored 13, and Nelson added 11. The Choctaws shot 39 percent from the field, 27 percent (6-22) from long range, and 75 percent (18-24) from the foul line.
Union's home game Saturday, January 24, versus Delta State has been postponed due to weather to Tuesday, January 27, at 7:30 p.m. at Union. Visit www.uuathletics.com for the most up-to-date information.
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