CLEVELAND, Miss. – The Union University men’s basketball team defeated Delta State University 79-74 Saturday afternoon. Union improved to 4-2 on the season and in Gulf South Conference play. Delta State dropped to 0-2 overall and in league play.
The win was the second of the weekend at Delta State as the Bulldogs won Friday night’s contest 92-79.
Union head coach David Niven said, “We are thankful to be playing. It is difficult to beat anybody twice in a row, even harder against a good team, and even harder than that on the road. I’m proud of our guys. We are going to continue to get better as the season progresses. We played eight guys this weekend and seven of them scored in double figures. We probably have 9 guys that could start, and we are learning to play together with a bunch of unselfish guys. Everyone contributed to these wins but I’m just thankful we are getting to play!”
Just like last night, Union scored first, this time on a bucket from Justin Debuck. Following a 3-point play by Jeremiah Littlepage with 16:48 left in the first half, Union had stretched its lead to 13-1. Union led by as many as 14 points twice in the first half, before DSU trimmed the deficit down to just four at the break, 38-34.
Early in the second half, Delta State continued to cut into the lead and at the 12:28 mark, took its first lead of the game, 49-48. DSU led by as many as five points, but a Tylandrius Parks jumper tied the game 60-60 with 7:13 left. Union never trailed again. Union pushed its late lead up to as many as seven points before DSU tied the game again at 70-70 with 2:12 left. However, Union was 5-of-5 from the free-throw line, including a 3-point play from Dusan Djordjevic with 24 seconds left to push Union to the 79-74 final.
Union was led by Debuck with 19 points. JC Clausi added 14 points and was perfect from the field, hitting all four shots including 2-of-2 from 3-point range. Tylandrius Parks finished with 12 points and JC Hawkins scored 10. Hunter Vick finished with eight points, nine rebounds, and four assists. Union shot 54 percent from the field, 44 percent (7-16) from 3-point range, and 76 percent (16-21) from the free-throw line.
Delta State was led by Maalik Cartwright with 21 points and 11 rebounds. Jaylen Lemons added 19 points, Michael Motley 16 points, and Airen Brooks finished with a double-double of 14 points and 10 boards. The Statesmen shot 45 percent from the field, 46 percent (10-22) from long range, and 56 percent (10-18) from the free-throw line.
Delta State outrebounded Union 33-39, including 13-7 offensively. Union committed 13 turnovers to 12 from DSU.
Union is scheduled to face West Alabama at home next weekend, January 15-16.
Lady Bulldogs split weekend series against DSU with 66-54 win
JACKSON, Tenn. – The Union University women’s basketball team avenged its loss Friday night with a 66-54 win against Delta State University. Union improved to 4-2 on the season and 4-2 in the Gulf South Conference. Delta State dropped to 1-5 overall and 1-5 in league play.
Union stormed out to a big lead in the first quarter, leading 20-9 at the end of the quarter. The Lady Statesmen showed good effort on both sides of the ball in the second quarter, cutting the deficit to 9 at the half. Union led 31-22 at the half.
Early in the third quarter, the Lady Statesmen cut the lead to as low as five points. However, an offensive outburst by the Lady Bulldogs from the likes of Sadie Knee, Jaelencia Williams, Jordan Little, Selale Kepenc and company, forced a lead as big as 14 points with only 1:42 left in the third.
A minute into the fourth quarter, the Lady Statesmen would cut the lead back to five points, however just like in the third, Union would collect the momentum and run away with the game. Through regulation, the final score was 66-54 with Union on top.
Union outscored Delta State in both the first and fourth quarters, losing the second by two points and tying the third.
Union was led by Jaelencia Williams with 18 points and 12 rebounds, giving herself a double-double in the contest. Williams led the team in rebounds, while also having an outstanding performance defensively down low with six blocks. Union’s Shanique Lucas and Emily Beard also added double digits to the point column. Lucas scoring 15 points with five rebounds and leading the team in assists with five. Beard scored 12 points shooting 4-6 from 3-point range, where she scored all 12 of her points. Union shot 44 percent from the field, including 33 percent (6-18) from long range, and 66 percent (10-15) from the free-throw line.
Delta State was led by Shaniyah Buford and Zyarie Ewing who both added 15 points. Ewing had 12 rebounds giving herself a double-double. The Lady Statesmen shot 37 percent from the field, 25 percent (4-16) from 3-point range, and 71 percent (10-14) from the foul line.
Up next for the Lady Bulldogs is a road GSC West division matchup in Livingston, Alabama, against the Tigers of West Alabama. That game will be Friday, January 15, at 6:00 p.m.
