BARBOURVILLE, Ky. – Six players scored in double figures on Tuesday, as No. 9 Union College overpowered visiting Bryan College (Tenn.) 102-69 in Appalachian Athletic Conference (AAC) play.
Lance Blakley netted a season-high 22 points to pace the Bulldogs, while Derek Morgan came off the bench to chip in 18 points. Jakobe Wharton hit 4-of-8 form 3-point range in knocking in 13 points with DeMarkus Loman, K.J. Duronslet, and Derio Little each scoring 11 points.
The victory pushes Union’s record to 5-2 overall and 4-0 in the AAC. The Lions, meanwhile, fall to 4-5 overall and 2-3 in league play.
TURNING POINT
Union never trailed, and the score was tied only once at 2-all. The Bulldogs jumped out to a 16-4 lead following back-to-back buckets from Duronslet. After a pair of Lion baskets, the Bulldogs went on a 12-2 surge in stretching the margin to 28-10 with 9:17 left in the half.
Bryan fought back, cutting the margin to nine before Union took a 41-30 lead into the break.
The Lions pulled even closer in the second half, making the deficit 45-38 on a Geevantay Gee bucket with 17:22 to play. However, Wharton capped a 22-4 run with a 3-pointer to open up a 67-42 cushion with 12:05 remaining. From that point on, the lead never dipped below 20 as Union led by as much as 35 en route to the 102-69 victory.
BULLDOGS OF THE GAME
Hitting 4-of-8 from 3-point range, Blakley posted a game-high 22 points to go along with six rebounds. Morgan played only 17 minutes and 33 seconds but racked up 18 points, seven rebounds, and three steals. Meanwhile, Duronslet recorded his second double-double of the season with 11 points and 11 rebounds to go with five assists.
BULLDOG NOTES
- Union hit a season-high 14 3-pointers in the win.
- The Bulldogs dished out a season-high 31 on 42 made baskets.
- Monquavis Frazier recorded a career-high seven assists, while Loman passed out six.
- Union owned the glass, out rebounding Bryan 50-30.
- This is the Bulldogs’ 11th consecutive win over the Lions. Union has not lost to Bryan since the 2013 AAC Tournament.
- This marks the third time this season Union has collected 50 or more rebounds in a game.
- The Bulldogs shot 51.9 percent (14-of-27) from long range while making 56 percent (42-of-75) from the field.
NEXT FOR THE BULLDOGS
Union returns to action Saturday and Sunday in Kingsport, Tenn., at the NAIA DII Showcase. Union takes on No. 19 Warner University (Fla.) on Saturday at 3 p.m.
