Box Score JACKSON, Tenn. – Union University's Corieon Pearson and Anthony Freeman Jr. combined to score 44 points to defeat West Alabama men's basketball 81-74 on Thursday. Pearson recorded 21 points in the second half to total 23 points, while Freeman ended with 21.
“Union is one of those teams that plays really tough at home,” said UWA head coach Mike Newell. “We went dark in the second half. We just lost our composure. When we try to outscore people we forget how to guard and we cannot do that. Now we have to go back to work.”
The loss snaps a two game win streak for the Tigers, and drops them to 10-14 on the season; 6-11 in the Gulf South Conference. Union continues its home winning streak, winning its past five games in Fred DeLay Gymnasium. The Bulldogs improve to 8-17 on the season; 6-11 in the conference.
West Alabama led Union in the first half until the final two minutes despite shooting 0-6 from the three point line. The Bulldogs hit a seven point run in the final minute to lead by five. As the final seconds of the half ticked off,
DeMarco Spears was fouled on a jumper in the paint. Spears made the jumper and his free throw to send the Tigers into half time trailing by only two.
UWA battled back in the second half to lead by as much as 10 points in the first five minutes of the second half. However Union responded again in the final 10 minutes to claim victory.
Union shot 66.7 percent in the second half after shooting only 36.7 in the first. The Bulldog's Pedro Faller also recorded double-digit scoring figures with 16 points.
Sandy Underwood led the Tigers with 27 points and 11 rebounds to post his sixth double-double of the season. Senior
Jack Hill hit his season high in scoring with 21 total points.
Steven Samuels ended with 17 total points to break double-digit scoring figures for the 16th time this season.
The Tigers will now return home for the last time this season to take on North Alabama on Saturday at 4:00 p.m. UWA has only one game remaining to improve on its regular season record before heading into the GSC tournament in Birmingham on March 7.
