JACKSON, Tenn. – Union drops their four straight conference game in 88-70 loss versus Christian Brothers. Union’s record drops to 3-4 (0-4 GSC) while Christian Brothers record improves to 4-3 (2-2 GSC).
First Half: Christian Brothers 44, Union 39
Union’s starting five: Justin Debuck, Jordan Pyke, Jeremiah Littlepage, Ahmad Johnson, Parker Applegate
Jordan Pyke dropped a floater in to get Union on the board. Union’s leading scorer coming into the game, Ahmad Johnson, scored on a layup to give the Bulldogs the early 4-0 lead. Jeremiah Littlepage joined the early action, knocking down a jumper and a layup under the basket on the following possession (fouled on the play). Littlepage converted the 3-point play to extend Union’s lead to seven. Christian Brothers quickly cut the Bulldog lead down to one, led by Anias Futrell who scored on back-to-back possessions.
Christian Brothers took the lead for the first time in the game at the 15:26 mark thanks to a Futrell layup. CBU completed a 12-0 scoring drive before Applegate was able to score in the post for the Bulldogs. Isaiah Victor found the bottom of the net from the top of the key, cutting the CBU lead down to four. Eric Canavan and Christian Jones helped CBU to a 7-0 run, extending the lead back to nine points. Jeremiah Littlepage answered loudly with a dunk over a Buccaneer defender. Futtrell continued to get to the basket for the Bulldogs, extending the lead to 14 with 7:30 left on the clock in the first half.
Littlepage scored 11 of Union’s first 22 points, keeping the Bulldogs in the game as the offense struggled to get in rhythm. Layne Sarver was able to hit a three-pointer in the following possession to cut the Buc’s lead back down to 11. Sarver knocked down another triple to bring the Bulldogs back within striking distance with 4:15 left in the half. Littlepage found Ahmad Johnson in transition, cutting the lead to seven. Littlepage knocked down a turn-around jumper, giving him 13 points on the night. Victor brought Union within four with a three-pointer in transition, 2:38 left.
Isaiah Victor and Braxtyn McCuien exchanged blows in the final minutes of the half, both knocking down deep threes. Justin Debuck scored his first bucket of the night, pulling Union to within a possession before Futrell knocked down a three in transition, giving the Bucs a five-point lead going into the half.
Littlepage led Union in scoring and rebounds in the first half with 13 points and 5 rebounds.
Halftime Stats
Jeremiah Littlepage: 13 points (6-8), 1 assist, 5 rebounds
Layne Sarver: 5 points (1-1 3 PT), 1 steal
Ahmad Johnson: 4 points, 4 assists, 5 rebounds
Second Half: Union 88, Christian Brothers 70
Debuck knocked won a corner three to get the second half underway for the Bulldogs. Christian Brothers scored on back-to-back possessions to lengthen their lead back to seven. Once again, Debuck answered with a steal and bucket on the fast break. Union went shot-for-shot with Christian Brothers in the early parts of the second half. Futtrell extended the Christian Brother lead back to six with his second three-pointer of the game.
Union trailed by nine with 15 minutes left in the game, looking to win their first conference game of the season. Andrew Eberhard hit another corner three for the Bucs, giving them a 12-point lead. Union’s Isaiah Victor hit his fourth three of the game, giving him 12 points in the game. Littlepage drew Union back within 10 following a basket in the post, 64-55 Bucs. Union remained. Jordan Pyke worked the offensive glass hard and put back a couple of rebounds to bring Union to a nine-point deficit. Following a Bucs turnover, Pyke found room on the baseline to score on a reverse layup then immediately drew a charge in transition to give Union a chance to pull within two possessions.
With 8:15 on the clock Ahmad Johnson knocked down a jumper, but still trailed 68-63. The Bulldogs struggled down the stretch to keep up with Christian Brothers’ hot shooting. The Bucs completed a 10-2 run, while Union went scoreless for 3:16.
Notable Stat Lines
Jeremiah Littlepage: 22 points, 1 assist, 5 rebounds
Jordan Pyke: 12 points, 1 assist, 4 rebounds, 1 block
Isaiah Victor: 12 points (4-9 3PT), 1 rebound
Union will return to action at Fred DeLay Gymnasium on December 15th. Union will look to capture their first conference victory versus the University of West Florida, tip-off is set for 7:30 p.m.
