JACKSON, Tenn. – The Union University men’s basketball team posted a 92-87 win over Auburn University Montgomery at Fred DeLay Gymnasium/David Blackstock Court. Union improved to 8-4 overall and 7-1 in the Gulf South Conference. Auburn Montgomery dropped to 5-7 on the season and 4-5 in league play.
AUM rallied from a 12-point deficit in the second half, including down nine with under two minutes remaining to force overtime. Union led 70-58 with 6:40 remaining. AUM cut its deficit down to three, but Union responded to go back up by nine, 79-70, with 1:52 left. AUM chipped away again, never taking the lead, but managed to tie the game with four seconds left on a pair of free throws. The score was 81-81 heading into overtime. This was the first overtime game for Union this season.
In overtime, free throws proved to be the difference. The first field goal of overtime came with 56 seconds left on a jumper from Union’s Jeremiah Littlepage, putting Union up by five, 88-83. Union extended its lead to 92-85 with 16 seconds left on a pair of free throws from Johnson to seal the win. A late AUM layup set the final at 92-87 in favor of Union.
Union scored 11 points in the overtime period, nine of those coming from the free throw line. Union was 9-of-10 from the foul line in the overtime period.
AUM led Union 36-34 at the half. For the third straight game, Union had low scoring in the first half including 34 today, 27 versus Montevallo, and 31 at Valdosta State. In each of the three games, Union had big second half outputs to get the wins. Today, Union got 47 in the second half, while scoring 50 in the second half of each of the previous two games.
Union was led by Tylandruis Parks with 20 points, 18 of those coming in the second half and overtime. Parks added 18 rebounds also. Boe Nguidjol added 18 points, Ivan Prug added 15 including 5-of-8 shooting from behind the arc. Justin Debuck and Jalen Johnson added 13 points each. Union shot 43 percent from the field, including 60 percent in the second half. Union shot 57 percent (13-23) from 3-point range, and 72 percent (31-43) from the free throw line.
AUM was led by Travis Anderson with 27 points and Joseph Lanzi with 19 points. Roderick Smith scored 13 and Deven Tucker 12 points. The Warhawks shot 46 percent from the field, 36 percent (9-24) from long range, and 68 percent (14-21) from the free throw line.
Union is done until after Christmas break when the Bulldogs travel to West Georgia December 31.
