JACKSON, Tenn. – Parker Applegate collected 23 points and eight rebounds, Division I transfer CJ Jackson scored 21, and the Union Bulldogs beat Cumberland University 82-76 in a homecoming exhibition at Fred DeLay Gymnasium on Saturday night.
In a tightly contested game that featured eight lead changes and eight ties, Union led 76-75 with a minute to play before a 6-1 Bulldog run to the final buzzer sealed the win over the Phoenix, an NAIA team of the Mid-South Conference.
Union led 53-40 with 17 minutes remaining shortly before caving to a 19-6 Cumberland run over the better part of the next nine minutes, as the visitors clawed their way back into the game and tied the score at 59. Cumberland’s Demarius Boyd and Jalen Anglin scored six apiece during the comeback and finished as the leading Phoenix scorers, with 20 and 18, respectively.
Triston Cooper and Baqi Lecky each contributed 11 for Cumberland.
Both teams shot 42.9% overall and 4-11 from three in the first 20 minutes, as Union took a 42-37 lead into halftime. The second frame offered further similar shooting marks, and Cumberland edged Union in shooting percentage 47.7 to 47.3 in the game.
Statistically, the separator of the teams was free throw shooting. Union visited the stripe more often and more effectively – 25-33 (75.8%) to 7-13 (53.8%) – than Cumberland, which was whistled for 24 fouls to Union’s 12.
Applegate alone scored 15 points on free throws, and Jackson had six from the stripe.
Five Bulldogs made their Union debuts on Saturday, including transfers CJ Jackson, Knoah Carver, and Kaleim Taylor and freshmen Jack Shackelford and Judson Bjornstad. Among the newcomers, Jackson, Taylor, and Bjornstad earned starts.
Bjornstad scored 15 points in 31 minutes, shooting 2-4 from 3. Jeremiah Littlepage chipped in seven points and seven boards.
Union will head to Austin Peay for a second and final exhibition game on Monday, November 4, before participating in the South Region Crossover Classic at Lane College the following weekend. The Bulldogs’ next home game will feature Williams Baptist for a 7:00 p.m. tipoff on November 14.
