OFFICIAL ATHLETIC SITE OF UNION COLLEGE BULLDOGS

Men’s Basketball | Wed, Feb. 12, 2020 at 10:50 PMShareBOX SCORERECAP

BARBOURVILLE, Ky. – No. 25 Union College men’s basketball got the pick-me-up it needed Wednesday as the Bulldogs held off the visiting Cavaliers of Montreat College (N.C.) 86-83 in Appalachian Athletic Conference (AAC) play.

The win improves Union to 18-9 overall and 15-6 in the AAC, while Montreat falls to 20-6 overall and 15-6 in conference play.

While both share identical conference records, Union owns the tiebreaker having swept the season series. Both teams have three conference games remaining with the regular-season finales set for Saturday, Feb. 22.

BACK-AND-FORTH AFFAIR

With first-place in the league on the line, a heavyweight bout was expected.

And a heavyweight bout was delivered.

The lead changed hands 16 times – 12 times in the first half alone, and the score was knotted on seven occasions. Neither team ever amassed a double-digit lead with Union’s largest lead being eight and Montreat’s three.

The Bulldogs led for much of the second half, but the tension was cracked up a notch when the Cavaliers went on a 6-1 spurt to grab a 78-77 lead with 3:21 to play. Richard Brown and Shylier Ringgold answered with buckets in the paint, putting Union back on top at 81-78 with 2:12 remaining.

Union never trailed again from that point on. Montreat cut the margin to one twice more, but a Ringgold basket and a Brown free throw gave Union an 85-81 lead with 13 seconds left to tick off.

Terrell Sheffey scored a quick bucket to make it a two-point game, and Isiah Knight hit 1-of-2 at the line for an 86-83 edge with seven seconds to go. Montreat got a 3-point attempt off at the buzzer, but it fell short, securing Union’s three-point victory.

BULLDOG OF THE GAME

Markelle Turner came off the bench and provided a season-high 21 points. He went 7-of-10 from the floor, including hitting 4-of-5 from 3-point range. The four 3-pointers are also a season-high.

Turner also helped out with five assists, two rebounds, and one steal.

BULLDOG NOTES

• Brown recorded his seventh double-double of the season, collecting 15 points and 13 rebounds.
• Ringgold and Jakobe Wharton also scored in double figures, netting 17 and 11 points, respectively.
• Austin Cummins dished out five assists to give him 85 on the season.
• Union has won its last four meetings against Montreat and the 16 of the last 17 games.
• The previous meeting this season was also decided by three points, 88-85 at Montreat.

NEXT FOR THE BULLDOGS

Union hits the road for its final three regular-season games, starting at Milligan College (Tenn.) on Saturday. Tipoff is set for 4 p.m.

83(RV)Montreat

86(25)UnionLocation: Barbourville, Ky.

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