Bulldogs close season with loss to Barry University

Marterrace Brock, junior guard.
[/media-credit] Marterrace Brock, junior guard had 15 points and five steals in the Bulldogs final game of the season. Submitted photo by Union Sports Information. | Submitted Photo
On Saturday, March 14 the Union University men’s basketball team ended their season in the 59-73 loss to Barry University in Lakeland, Florida during the first round of the NCAA Division II national tournament.

In order to qualify for the national tournament the Bulldogs earned an at-large bid and wound up with a No. 7 seed in the South Region part of the bracket.

A member of the Sunshine State Conference, Barry earned the No. 2 seed of the South Region bracket.

At the end of the first half Barry led the Bulldogs 34-27. The team shot 39 percent from the field and but only 27 percent from behind the arc.

Marterrace Brock, junior guard and sports management major, started the second half off on a good note by making a layup to bring the Bulldogs within five.

However, the Buccaneers gained more momentum in the middle of the second half and made several shots around the last five minutes of the game, increasing their lead.

Roy Bullock, junior guard and exercise science major, and Zach Phillips, sophomore guard and business administration major, each made a layup in the last 30 seconds of the game.

The total game percentage from the field was 40 percent and 21 percent from behind the arc.

Bullock led the team with 16 points and five assists.

“I’m extremely proud of the way we fought not only in this game but the entire season as a whole,” Bullock said. “We were faced with adversity throughout the whole season but we were able to stick together.”

Pedro Faller, senior guard and business management major, gave his thoughts on the season as well.

“Getting to the tournament was our goal since we made the transition to NCAA, so making it on the first year of eligibility is definitely something to be proud of,” Faller said.

Faller also spoke of some influential players this season.

“Corieon [Pearson] and Marterrace [Brock] played a big part in our success this year. They always left everything they had on the court … Thomas Greer was also a guy that had a huge impact in the process of forming our identity as a team,” Faller said.

Throughout the season, Bullock was encouraged by the coaching staff and seniors Corieon Pearson, Pedro Faller and Eric Leisey.

“They reminded us that all that we do and all that we accomplish should bring glory to God,” Bullock said.

About Elise Watkins 12 Articles
Elise Watkins is a Public Relations major and in Union University's graduating Class of 2016. She is from Louisa, VA but has also lived in four other states. She is a southerner, a reader, and a talker.