JACKSON, Tenn. – The Bulldogs defeat Delta State University by a score of 104-101. Union’s record falls to 10-8 overall (7-7 GSC) while Delta State’s record improves to 10-7 overall (8-5 GSC).
Before tonight’s game, Union sat in seventh in the GSC standings with a 7-6 conference record. The Statesmen of Delta State entered the evening in fifth place with a 7-5 conference record.
In the first ten minutes of play for the Bulldogs Jeremiah Littlepage tallied six points and two rebounds. David Niven‘s squad jump out to a 16-12 lead before Delta State completed an 8-0 run to take the lead 20-18. Justin Debuck knocked down a corner three-pointer in front of the student section to halt the offensive momentum of the Statemen and retake the lead for Union.
Down the stretch of the first half, both teams exchanged leads. Devaki Garr provided a spark for the Bulldog offense, scoring five consecutive points for the Bulldogs to take a one-point lead with three minutes remaining in the first half of the game. Garr connected in the corner for his first three-pointer of the game in the sequence.
Union entered the half down a point to the Statesmen. Union shot 58.3% from the floor in the first half and 33.3% from three-point range. Delta State out-rebounded Union 18-16 in the first half, doing most of their damage on the offensive glass (10-2). Three Bulldogs collected seven or more points at the half including Layne Sarver and Jeremiah Littlepage who each had eight points.
Justin Debuck retook the lead for Union coming out of halftime with a turn-around jumper near the baseline. Parker Applegate followed up the score with a baseline drive, giving the bulldog’s a three-point lead. Debuck struck again from the right wing, pushing the Bulldog lead to six points with 17 minutes remaining. Union completed an 11-2 run, lasting four minutes to grant the Bulldogs an eight-point lead.
Delta State’s Caleb Allen connected for three following a timeout to pull within five points of the Bulldogs. Union’s Ahmad Johnson, who missed Saturday’s game with an injury, knocked down back-to-back three-pointers for Union. With 14 minutes left in the game, Union led by seven points. Johnson continued with the hot hand, scoring 10 points in the first 10 minutes of the second half.
Delta State quickly retook the lead with a 5-0 run (59-57) with nine minutes remaining in the game. Union, down eight with six minutes remaining, found Debuck once again for a three-pointer to retake momentum for the Bulldogs offense. The Bulldogs went on to complete a 5-0 run to draw within four of the Statesmen.
In the final two minutes, Ahad Johnson continued his impressive return to the lineup and pulled the Bulldogs within a basket with 25 seconds left on a crucial and-on conversion. Down two with 20 seconds left Johnson tied the game up with an up-and-under shot to send the bulldogs to overtime and the Fred DeLay Gymnasium into a frenzy.
In overtime both teams exchanged blows, until Ahmad Johnson connected once again from the right wing, giving Union a one-point lead with one minute left in the game. Chris Terrel answered right back two possessions later with a three-pointer of his own. The Statesmen led by two points with 1:14 left in the game. The Bulldog’s final possession came with six seconds on the clock. Parker Applegate found a put-back as the clock hit zero to give the Bulldogs a second opportunity in double overtime.
Delta State struck first in double overtime, scoring on back-to-back possessions to take a five-point lead. Ahmad Johnson, who is in line for a double-double, knocked down two free throws to draw Union back within three. Johnson knocked down another pair of free throws to pull Union to a 92-91 deficit. Johnson retook the lead for the Bulldogs with 40 seconds left, 93-92.
Johnson fouled out of the game with 25 seconds left. Johnson finished the game with a team-high 30 points. He also collected 11 rebounds and two steals. Johnson shot 7-7 from the free throw line and 50% from the floor.
With 21 seconds left on the clock, Keithean Brooks retook the lead for the Statesmen. Union was left with time for one more opportunity, and the Bulldogs cashed in once again. This time Debuck hit from the elbow to send the game into its third overtime.
In the third overtime, Delta State broke through defeating Union. Union’s missed opportunities at the free throw line proved costly at the end, as the Bulldogs shot 18-31 from the charity stripe (58.1%).
Parker Applegate recorded 16 rebounds, a new career high for the freshman. Justin Debuck led Union with nine assists on the night.
Union will be back in action on January 27 versus the University of West Georgia. The game is scheduled to start at 4:00 p.m.
