JACKSON, Tenn. - The Union University men's basketball team lost 97-90 to Delta State University Tuesday night in double overtime at Fred DeLay Gymnasium, David Blackstock Court. Union dropped to 9-13 on the season and 5-11 in the Gulf South Conference. Delta State improved to 9-13 overall and 6-11 in league play.
With Union down by 12 points with just over five minutes left, the Bulldogs posted a 12-2 run, and with 1:25 left in the game, the Bulldogs were within two points, 71-69. Sam Youngblood hit two 3-pointers during that run. Neither team scored for over a minute. Union forced two DSU turnovers in the final minute but failed to convert on the following jumpers. Union was forced to foul DSU. Following a missed free-throw attempt from the Statesmen, Union's Terrence Ringo got his 14th rebound of the night to set up Union's shot at tying the game. However, turnover put the ball back in DSU's hands and another chance at the line. Another miss for the Statemen gave Union the ball with one second left on the clock. After a Bulldog timeout, Ringo took a pass from Will Lovings-Watts and hit a floater in the lane to tie the game at 71-71 at the buzzer.
It was the fifth attempt for Union to tie the game as DSU went the last 2:30 of the game with no points, two missed free throws, and two turnovers.
In overtime, Union jumped out to a 78-73 lead with 1:50 left in the extra period. Delta State got a pair of free throws, then after a Union turnover and an offensive rebound, Delta State's Westbrook hit a 3-pointer and was fouled. Tied at 78 each, Westbrook missed the free throw. Union missed on a shot at the win, forcing double overtime.
This time, the fast start belonged to Delta State, going up 87-82 with 2:36 left to play. Union's Jack Shackelford kept Union alive with a 3-pointer with 2:19 left to play. But each shot Union made in the second overtime was answered by DSU. With DSU up 90-85, Youngblood hit a 3-pointer; however, it was followed by a three from DSU's Westbrook. Delta State hit 4-of-4 free throws in the final five seconds to seal the 97-90 2OT win.
The game featured nine ties and six lead changes.
Early on, the game was close with the teams going back and forth for the first 10 minutes. Union took a 13-10 lead on a jumper from Casey Williams with 11 minutes left in the half. Union maintained a lead for the next five minutes. Then Delta State used a 7-0 run to jump out to a 26-22 lead with 5:26 left in the half. DSU continued to push and led by nine three different times late in the half, including the 40-31 lead going into the locker room.
Delta State maintained the momentum from the first half, outscoring Union 11-3 over the first three minutes of the second half to go up 51-34. Union was not done, answering with a 13-2 run of its own to get back into the game. With 10:09 left, Union pulled to within six points, 58-52. Delta State slowed the Union rally, going back up by 12, 69-57, with 5:11 left in the game.
Union was led by Lovings-Watts with 20 points and Younblood with 18 points, including six 3-pointers. Ringo, the reigning GSC Player of the Week, recorded his 12th double-double of the season and eighth in his last nine games, with 16 points and 16 rebounds. Jamiir Allen added 13 points. The Bulldogs shot 45 percent from the field, 41 percent (12-29) from 3-point range, and 55 percent (12-22) from the free throw line.
Delta State, playing just seven players, was led by four in double figures. Westbrook posted a game-high 29 points, while Porter added 26, Braddix 21, and Clayton 10. DSU shot 46 percent from the field, 31 percent (8-26) from long range, and 73 percent (27-37) from the foul line.
Union will continue its home stand with two more games this weekend. First up is West Alabama Thursday at 7:30 p.m., followed by UAH Saturday at 4 p.m.
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