JACKSON, Tenn. – The Bulldogs defeated Lindsey Wilson College 94-54 to improve to 3-3 overall (0-2 GSC).
First Half: Union 40, Lindsey Wilson 27
The starters for the Bulldogs included Justin Debuck, Jordan Pyke, Jeremiah Littlepage, Ahmad Johnson, and Parker Applegate.
Jordan Pyke got the Bulldogs rolling with a steal and a jam, followed by an Ahmad Johnson mid-range bucket. The Bulldogs found their first lead, converting under the basket after coming down with an offensive rebound. Lindsey Wilson answered quickly in transition with a dunk from Jackson Edwards. The first five minutes of action produced three lead changes.
Devaki Garr knocked down a three-pointer from the left wing to put the Bulldogs back in front 15-13. Lindsey Wilson evened the score with 8:15 left to go in the half before Ahmad Johnson hit his first three-pointer of the game to give the Bulldogs a three-point lead. Garr extended Union’s lead with another three-pointer off the left wing, followed by a Littlepage layup to give extend the Bulldog lead to four.
Union’s Parker Applegate fought through contact to get a baseline lay-up and a foul that would result in a missed free throw, rebounded by the Bulldogs and kicked out for an Isaiah Victor three-pointer. Victor stretched the Bulldog lead to 14 after connecting from beyond the arc with three minutes left in the half. With one second left in the half Littlepage knocked down a mid-range jumper at the buzzer to give the Bulldogs a 13-point lead going into the break.
Union shot 46.9% from the field, 42.9% from three-point range, and out-rebounded Lindsey Wilson 21-19. Isaiah Victor led all scorers with 10 points (3-4 3PT). Ahmad Johnson and Jeremiah Littlepage both recorded eight points, backing the Bulldog’s strong first half.
Second Half: Union 94, Lindsey Wilson 54 (FINAL)
Union’s season leader in scoring, Ahmad Johnson, opened the second half converting both free throw opportunities. Justin Debuck was able to steal the ball at midcourt and score on a layup to stretch the Bulldog lead to 17 points. Union went on an 18-2 run capped off by a Jordan Pyke slam over two Lindsey Wilson defenders. Pyke was fouled on the dunk and converted the three-point play at the charity strike to increase the Bulldog’s largest lead of the game to 24 points.
Debuck caught fire from deep, connecting on back-to-back three-point opportunities with 12:53 left in the second half. Garr followed up Debuck’s laser show with a three from deep in the corner. Dusan Djordjevic went to work down low for the Bulldogs to stretch the Union lead to 32 points. Union’s Will Jackson put an exclamation mark on the Bulldog’s dominant outing with a three-pointer from the right ring, sending Fred DeLay Gymnasium into a frenzy.
Union ended the game shooting 52.3% from the field, 46.7% from three-point range, and out rebounded Lindsey Wilson 42-33. The Bulldog’s scored 22 points off turnovers and scored a season-high 94 points. Devaki Garr led all scorers with 14 points, as Union was able to produce four double-digit scorers on the night.
Coach Niven’s Post-Game Thoughts:
“I was pleased with how guys were looking for one another tonight, that even playing out in the final five minutes. There was a lot of unselfishness, and that showed in how we shot the ball. Guys were ready to shoot and confident in shooting it. I felt we were locked in all night defensively. It is what our team needed.”
The Bulldogs will resume conference play on December 3rd on the road versus the University of West Georgia. Union will return home on December 8th when Christian Brothers comes to the Fred DeLay Gymnasium. Tip-off on December 8th is scheduled for 7:30 p.m.
