CLEVELAND, Ga. (Jan. 30, 2021) – After sending the game into overtime, the Truett McConnell University men's basketball team captured a big Appalachian Athletic Conference victory over Union College Saturday, inside the Benjamin F. Brady Arena with a final score of 103-99. The Bears increased to a season record of 6-13, 3-10 AAC, while Union declined to 7-8, 6-7 AAC.

PLAY BY PLAY

Both teams came out hot from the start, with TMU making their way to the board first from a Marlon Allen 3-pointer (3-0), while the Bulldogs retaliated every shot after, keeping the score almost even the entire half. The Bears ran away with the lead in the final three minutes, after an eight-point run from two good free throws by Christian Holland and Allen, followed by two Ty Briscoe shots in the paint (40-32). The largest division of the half came from a Cory Seitz shot in the paint at the one-minute mark, which gave TMU a 10-point buffer (44-34) to remain in the lead at halftime with a score of 44-40.

Union gained momentum into the second half, bridging the gap multiple times, able to steal the lead in the 15th minute (56-53). The Bears were down by at most 15 at the seven-minute mark (60-84), but a 14-point run put TMU one away from making the score even (83-84). With nine seconds remaining in the half, a pair of Allen free throws sent the Bears into overtime with a score of 86-86.

The extra period saw the Bears act first after a shot in the paint from Briscoe (88-86), but Union responded with shots of their own. TMU had a six-point run in the final minute after two good free throws by Allen (99-93). The Bears secured the lead for the remainder of the period by dominating at the free throw line clinching the win with a final score of 103-99.

BY THE NUMBERS

Allen led the Bears with a double-double of 24 points and 14 rebounds, including eight free throws. Briscoe had 22 points, six rebounds and seven assists, while junior Enocka Franky had 22 points with seven rebounds. Kelly made his season debut with 16 points, four assists and three rebounds, followed by freshman EJ Smith who had six points, three rebounds and three steals. Fellow freshman Bosko Norman had four points with four rebounds, while Seitz added four points with two rebounds.

UP NEXT

The Bears are back inside the Benjamin F. Brady Arena Tuesday, Feb. 2, where they will face Bluefield College in an AAC battle, with a tipoff at 7:00 p.m.