Men's basketball stays hot ahead of 1st place showdown Saturday

COLUMBIA, S.C. - With the toughest game of the still young Appalachian Athletic Conference season ahead Saturday, the Union men's basketball team avoided looking ahead in a tough environment Wednesday night.

Deonte Douglas had a team-best 24 points and hit a key shot down the stretch to help the 17th-ranked Bulldogs clinch a 78-70 win at Columbia International.

The game appeared headed for a drama-free finish after an Anton Mozga jump shot put the Bulldogs ahead 54-38 with 14:15 to play. But the Rams managed to chip away and cut that deficit all the way down to 74-68 on a pair of Dianthony Heathcock free throws with just over two minutes remaining.

But on the ensuing possession, Douglas ran the shot clock all the way down before finding an opening, driving into the lane and knocking down a mid-range jump shot just as the buzzer sounded to essentially ice the game. He then added two free throws on Union's final possession for good measure.

Markelle Turner added 23 points, with 18 coming in the first half. Terrin Hamilton, who has scored in double-figures in every game this season, recorded his fourth double-double with 14 points and 10 rebounds.

Another key factor in the win was the Bulldogs' strong play on the offensive glass, where their 17 offensive rebounds led to 13 second-chance points.

Union is now 10-1 overall and 8-0 in the AAC. Including last postseason, the Bulldogs have won 21 consecutive games against conference opponents.

That streak will be tested in a big way Saturday, when the Bulldogs welcome 7-1 Tennessee Wesleyan to Robsion Arena. The battle for first place in the league heading into 2023 will tip off at approximately 4 p.m.