JACKSON, Tenn. – Union defeats the University of West Florida 86-84. Union’s record improves to 4-5 (1-4 GSC) while West Florida record drops to 3-7 (1-5 GSC).
First Half: Union 55, West Florida 44
Union’s starting five: Justin Debuck, Layne Sarver, Jeremiah Littlepage, Parker Applegate, Isaiah Victor
Union was able to get their offense rolling in the first half versus West Florida, scoring a season-high 55 points.
Union was led offensively by Jeremiah Littlepage, who is coming off a season-high 22-point performance versus Christian Brothers. Littlepage surpassed that total in the first half of tonight’s game, recording 23 points which led all scorers.
Union led West Florida in field goal percentage (.583 FG%), three-point percentage (.545 3PT%), rebounds (21-17), and assists (6-4). The first half saw two lead changes but was predominantly led by Union for 18:18.
Jordan Pyke scored 13 points in the first half and also collected 8 rebounds, nearly securing his second double-double of the season in the first half. Isaiah Victor added two three-pointers and a free throw for a tally of seven points at the half.
Halftime Stats
Jeremiah Littlepage: 23 points, 1 assist, 2 rebounds, 1 block
Jordan Pyke: 13 points, 1 assist, 8 rebounds
Isaiah Victor: 7 points, 2 rebounds
Second Half: Union 86, West Florida 84
Like last year’s games versus West Florida, tonight came down to a Union four-point lead (79-75) with just over five minutes remaining in the game. Jordan Pyke was able to get to the rim all night and did it once more to record his 20th and 21st points of the night. West Florida’s Channick Nkoma put back a missed free throw to bring the Bulldog lead back down to three points. Xavier Washington cut the Bulldog lead down to one point following a Bulldog turnover and took the lead for the first time since the first half off a Le’tarion White free throw (82-81).
Debuck hits from deep in the corner with 3:38 on the clock to retake the lead for the Bulldogs and followed his score up by forcing a turnover in transition. Littlepage got to the line with two minutes left to break an 84-84 tie.
Leading by a point with 20 seconds left on the clock the Bulldog’s defense showed up to get a game-winning stop, securing the Bulldog’s first conference win of the season. The Bulldog’s Jeremiah Littlepage scored a career-high 24 points and added 6 rebounds to his impressive night on the court. Jordan Pyke secured his second double-double of the season, recording 21 points, two assists, 12 rebounds, and a block. Justin Debuck came alive late for the David Niven led Bulldog team. He ended up with 15 points, two assists, five rebounds, and three steals.
Final Game Stats
Jeremiah Littlepage: 24 points, 4 assists, 6 rebounds, 1 block
Jordan Pyke: 21 points, 2 assists, 12 rebounds
Justin Debuck: 15 points, 2 assists, 5 rebounds, 3 steals
Coach Niven on the heart of his team:
“I thought we played really hard and I was proud of the effort. We are going to learn how to play a lot smarter and it was good for our young guys to get tight game experience that they can learn and grow up from. I am thankful we got to do it in a win, these guys played with a lot of toughness and you could tell they were desperate to get this win.”
Union will face off against Valdosta State University this Sunday, tip-off is scheduled for 4:00 p.m.
General admission is free courtesy of First Bank.
