Union overcomes 17-point deficit to defeat Pikeville 84-81 in OT

Barbourville, Ky. – The Union College men's basketball team hosted Pikeville on Wednesday night in a highly anticipated matchup.

The game featured the top two teams in the Appalachian Athletic Conference's (AAC) Preseason Poll. The Bulldogs were slotted at No. 1 in that poll, while Pikeville was ranked at No. 2.

Pikeville began the game with a 10-0 run, and led 30-13 with 9:10 to play in the first half. Union countered with a 9-0 run to make the score 30-22. At halftime, the Bulldogs trailed by just three points 41-38.

In the second half, the Bulldogs led 63-55 following a layup by Terrin Hamilton with 8:27 remaining in regulation. The Bears rallied to force overtime as the score was 74-74 at the end of the second half.

With 2:54 to play in OT, a dunk by Hamilton gave Union a 79-78 lead. The Bulldogs kept the lead for the remainder of the matchup as Union won by a final score of 84-81 in overtime.

Hamilton led Union in scoring with 22 points. Markelo Sullivan registered a double-double with 21 points and 11 rebounds off 8-of-12 shooting from the floor.

Deonte Douglas came close to a double-double with 11 points and nine assists to go with two steals. Will Bailey scored 10 points, which included eight of Union's first 13 points.

Anton Mozga registered eight points, while Markelle Turner tallied six. Cam Bartmann, Jahloni Mitchell, and Jay Falls also scored for the Bulldogs. Every player that entered the game for Union scored.

Union had 22 points off the bench, while Pikeville had seven. The Bulldogs tallied 21 assists, while the Bears recorded 13. Union had 21 points off turnovers compared to nine for Pikeville.

The Bulldogs are now 1-1 (1-0 AAC) this season, while Pikeville is 0-1 (0-1 AAC). Up next for Union is a road conference matchup against Johnson on Saturday, Nov. 11, at 4:00 p.m.