The Union University men’s basketball team lost 75-73 at Shorter University to close out the regular season. Union dropped to 14-14 overall and 13-11 in the Gulf South Conference. Shorter finished the season at 6-22 on the year and 4-17 in league play.
The loss for Union cost the Bulldogs a 6-seed in the GSC Tournament. Union dropped to the 7-seed and will travel to 2-seed West Alabama Tuesday, February 28 in the GSC Quarterfinals. Union and West Alabama split the regular season series, with each team winning on its home floor. Most recently, Union knocked off West Alabama 73-56 last Saturday on senior day.
In the early going, the teams swapped leads, but Union held a small for most of the first half. With Union leading 22-21, the Bulldogs stretched their lead to as many as 10 points twice, the last coming 35-25 with 3:47 left in the half. Shorter stormed back and with a pair of free throws in the final seconds, tied the game at 37-37 at the half.
Union took a brief lead early in the second half by as many as four points, 41-37, less than a minute into the half. Shorter responded and took the lead for good, 42-41 with 18:47 left to play. Union stayed close for a while, but Shorter finally got the lead to double figures and led by as many as 12 points, 67-55, with 5:47 left.
Union had one last rally left and started the comeback. Union chipped away and with 36 seconds left, Union had cut the deficit to just two points, 72-70. Shorter got two free throws to lead by four, but Union Boe Nguidjol hit a 3-pointer to get to within one point. Shorter then hit 1-of-2 free throws, but Union failed to convert a made basket in its final two attempts and lost by two.
Union was led by Nguidjol with 21 points and nine rebounds. Justin Debuck added 16 points and Tylandrius Parks scored 13 points. Union shot 44 percent from the field, 32 percent (8-25) from 3-point range, and 85 percent (17-20) from the free throw line.
Shorter was led by Chris Brown with 21 points, Ricky Knight with 16 points, Ian Reith with 11 points, and Granth Atchley with 10 points. The Hawks shot 46 percent from the field, 29 percent (7-24) from long range, and 57 percent (16-28) from the foul line.
