Men's basketball survives stiff challenge from Point

BARBOURVILLE, Ky. - Union got a stiff test from Appalachian Athletic Conference opponent point on Tuesday, but a late 8-0 run helped the 19th-ranked Bulldogs stay unbeaten with a 73-66 win over a feisty Point team at Robsion Arena.

The Eagles looked to put the Bulldogs on the ropes with a 14-2 run to end the first half, giving them a 32-25 lead at the break. However, Union exploded out of the locker room with a 14-2 run of its own, capped by a highlight-reel alley-oop pass from Deonte Douglas to Will Bailey.

The lead proceeded to change hand six more times with two more ties, until the Bulldogs pulled away. With the score tied at 61, Terrin Hamilton started the decisive 8-0 run with a layup and the Bulldogs wouldn't trail again.

The most critical sequence of the rally was sparked by Anton Mozga. With 3:30 to play, Hamilton made a free throw to put Union head 64-61, but missed the second, only for Mozga to grab the offensive board. Moments later, Mozga got free in the corner and connected on a 3-pointer just before the shot clock expired, a dagger that seemed to break the Skyhawks' spirit.

A big difference in the two halves of play was aggression and how it helped the Bulldogs get to the foul line. After attempting just one free throw in the first half, Union shot 16 in the second, making 13 of those attempts.

As they have throughout the young season, Markelle Turner and Hamilton led the scoring attack, finishing with 26 and 17 points respectively. Hamilton also pulled down 11 rebounds, giving him his third double-double of the season.

Union improves to 6-0 overall and 5-0 in the AAC and will next be in action next week at the two-day The Show Tournament in Kingsport, Tenn. Things kick off Friday with a 4:15 matchup against Indiana University Kokomo.