Men's basketball routs CIU, cuts down nets to celebrate AAC title

BARBOURVILLE, Ky. - Claiming to be "allergic to getting up on ladders," Union men's basketball coach Kevin Burton was happy to watch from afar as his team cut down the nets to commemorate another Appalachian Athletic Conference championship.

It's become one of the veteran coach's favorite traditions.

Terrin Hamilton led a balanced offense with 28 points and a swarming defense held Columbia International to 26 percent shooting in the second half, earning the third-ranked Bulldogs a 32nd-consecutive AAC win in an 85-59, senior day blowout.

Eleven days after collecting a ninth-straight league title, Union celebrated the occasion by cutting down the nets after Saturday's win.

"It does not get old," Burton said. "It's very pleasing to see them get to do that. They enjoyed it. They've represented our school in a really good way on and off the floor. For them to have a regular season accomplishment like that, it's impressive."

Things were particularly impressive on Saturday, as the postgame cutting proved to be one of the rare instances that particular net saw action in the second half.

The game initially had the look of a down-to-the-wire affair, as the Rams, who led by five late in the first half, trailed just 41-40 following a Dianthony Heathcock dunk 3:10 into the second. But that would be the last field goal CIU would hit for a 9 minute, 41 second stretch, missing nine-consecutive attempts, and by the time the Rams finally connected from the floor again, the deficit was 63-45.

The offense did its part too with Hamilton leading the way, tying a career-best scoring output while topping 20 points for the 12th time this season. Anton Mozga (18 points, 12 rebounds) and Markelo Sullivan (13, 14), both added double-doubles with Sullivan recording his with 7:20 still to play in the first half.

All told, Union held a 57-36 edge on the glass, with five different players grabbing at least seven rebounds.

The Bulldogs are now 25-1 overall and just need to top Truett McConnell on the road next Saturday to clinch a perfect 24-0 AAC record. And though few likely needed much convincing, Burton says efforts like Saturday prove that when his team is at its peak, it can play with anyone at the NAIA level.

"I thought today's second half was about as good as we've looked in quite awhile," he said. "We have not really clicked on all cylinders very much, and today's second half was one of the few times I think it kind of looked like that."

Saturday also saw guard Markelle Turner become the sixth player in program history to record 2,000 career points. For a story on Turner's accomplishment, click here.