Despite a strong performance, the Union men’s basketball team came up just short last Saturday night against West Alabama in front of an enthusiastic home crowd.
A final score of 78-74 depicts what was a hard fought game that remained tight to the finish. The score was tied at 34 at the half and was a back and forth affair until West Alabama pulled away late to capture their second win over the Bulldogs this season. A couple of highlight-worthy steals sparked a late Bulldog run pulling within two before West Alabama created more separation. A late three with a few seconds to play by Terrandus Smith cut the deficit to three before a crucial free throw in response put the game on ice.
When asked how this game compared to similar missed opportunities for the men’s teams of the past, former team broadcaster Steve Beverly of ePlus TV6 said it reminded him of rivalry games from Union’s time in the NAIA, but that this loss didn’t quite hurt as much as the games he mentioned. He felt that this lost would have hurt more if there was more at stake for the Bulldogs at this point in the season.
Coach David Niven did indeed feel that this was a huge opportunity for his squad, but also told ePlus TV6 before the game, “I tell our guys whatever game is the biggest game of the year.”
The team responded to this message by giving one of their stronger performances of the year despite the loss. Smith added to his recent strong play with 19 points, including shooting 4-6 from downtown, along with six rebounds and three steals. LiDonta Hicks-Gentry also played well with a 20-point performance. Overall, the team shot a dead even 50 percent from the field.
After the game, Steve Beverly said that this year’s men’s team somewhat reminded him of the 1996 Union men’s basketball team. They were a solid squad, but three close losses late in the season kept them from reaching their full potential.
With only a couple games remaining before the conference tournament, the team and Niven are focused on their identity as a unit.
“We’ve got a group of unselfish guys,” Niven said before the game. “We want to win. We don’t really care how we do it.”
The Bulldog’s next game will be this Thursday, Feb. 21, at Lee University with tip-off at 7:00 p.m.
Graphic Produced by Campbell Padgett