MONTGOMERY, Ala. - The Union University men's basketball team earned a tough road win at Auburn University Montgomery Saturday afternoon, 71-64. Union improved to 9-12 overall and 5-10 in the Gulf South Conference. AUM dropped to 5-17 on the season, and 3-13 in league play. 

In the win, Sam Youngblood surpassed 1,000 career points with his 13 points on the night. He did so against his former team, AUM, and now has 1,005 career points. 

The first half was tightly contested for the majority of the quarter with back-and-forth play. The first 14 minutes of play featured five ties and eight lead changes. AUM led for the last time, 29-28, with 6:48 left in the half. Union then posted a 10-0 run to take a 38-29 lead, before settling for a 38-32 lead at the half. 

In the second half, Union built its biggest lead of the night at 14 points twice in the second half. The last 14-point lead came on a 3-pointer from Casey Williams with 12:34 left in the game. AUM roared back and with 5:28 left to play, the home WarHawks had cut their deficit to just two points, 58-56. 

Union stopped the comeback with a 3-pointer from Jack Shackelford with 5:04 left. Union pushed its lead back to seven points several times down the stretch and walked away with the 71-64 win. 

Union was led by Mason McBride with 22 points. Terrence Ringo, Jr. posted his 11th double-double and his seventh in the past eight games with 19 points and 17 rebounds. Sam Youngblood added 13 points. Union shot 45 percent from the field, 43 percent (9-21) from three-point range, and 67 percent (10-15) from the free throw line. 

AUM was led by Canery with 15 points. Scruggs added 14 points, Thiam 12, and Barksdale 11. The WarHawks shot 34 percent from the field, 29 percent (10-35) from long range, and 57 percent (8-14) from the foul line. 

Up next for Union will be the home makeup game with Delta State University that was postponed due to the winter storm. The men's game will be at 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, February 10 at the Fred. 

-UNION-