JACKSON, Tenn. - The Union University men's basketball team defeated Trevecca Nazarene University 89-85 Wednesday night at Fred DeLay Gymnasium/David Blackstock Court. Union improved to 11-16 on the season and 7-14 in the Gulf South Conference. Trevecca Nazarene dropped to 17-10 overall and 12-9 in league play.
Union's postseason hopes remain alive with the win. Union needs one more win Friday versus Lee in the final regular season game of the year. Union hosts Lee at 7:30 p.m. Friday.
Union is in a 3-way tie for eighth place with Mississippi College and Delta State, all three with 7-14 records and one game left. All of the other 7 seeds are clinched. MC and Delta State play each other Friday night. Union holds the tiebreaker over both MC and Delta State, so a win for Union puts the Bulldogs as the 8-seed in next week's tournament. A loss Friday night ends the season for Union.
In a tight must win game at the Fred, the Bulldogs took the lead for good when Jamiir Allen hit a 3-pointer to break a 66-66 tie. Allen scored on a driving layup on the next possession to put Union up 71-66 with 4:39 left in the game. Trevecca hit three 3-pointers in the final 2:41 but Union was able to answer and keep a slim lead.
Following a Devaki Garr 3-pointer, the Bulldogs' lead went to six points, 78-72, the largest of the night. Two TNU 3-pointers with a Terrence Ringo, Jr. basket in between put the Trojans back within two points, 80-78, with 35 seconds left. The teams swapped free throws and Trevecca was again within two points, 84-82 with 16 seconds left. Union hit 3-of-4 free throws over the next two possessions to led 87-82.
TNU was not done yet. A 3-pointer with two seconds left put the score at 87-85. Union's Sam Youngblood got the long inbound pass, was fouled, and then sealed the win with two free throws, setting the final at 89-85.
In the first half, Trevecca held a small lead for most of the half including a 33-32 halftime advantage. TNU led by as many as six points, 25-19, while Union managed a few small leads early in the game.
The largest lead for both teams in the game was six points each. The game featured six ties and 13 lead changes.
Union was led by Ringo with 23 points and 10 rebounds for his 17th double-double of the season. Four other Bulldogs hit double figures as Union on played eight players. Allen finished with 18 points, Youngblood 17, Will Lovings-Watts 15, and Garr with 10. Union shot 48 percent from the field, 38 percent (9-24) from 3-point range, and 89 percent (24-27) from the free throw line.
Trevecca was led by Wright with 31 points, including 9-of-13 from 3-point range. Bailey scored 25 and Fisher scored 10. The Trojans shot 49 percent from the field, 50 percent (13-26) from long range, and 80 percent (12-15) from the free throw line.
-UNION-
