Union Defeats Montreat in Competitive Conference Home Opener

BARBOURVILLE, Ky. – Union Commonwealth University's men's basketball team (2-2, 1-0 AAC) outlasted Montreat (2-2, 0-1 AAC) Wednesday night at Robsion Arena, 82-81.

Last season, the Bulldogs split their series with the Cavaliers, winning 87-71 and falling 90-72. This time, Union held off a late Montreat comeback to earn the one-point victory.

Redshirt junior guard Kaleb Hedgepeth led the Bulldogs with 17 points, shooting 6-of-9 from the field and 5-of-7 from three-point range. Sophomore guard Jabari Covington followed with 16 points on 5-of-12 shooting.

Senior forward Dallas Rufus was the top free-throw shooter, going 6-of-7 from the line and finishing with 13 points. Junior forward David Galentine posted a double-double with 12 points and 12 rebounds, while redshirt junior guard Drew Rhodes rounded out the double-digit scorers with 12 points.

Game Recap

First Half: Union Commonwealth 42, Montreat 35
Union opened strong with a 10-3 run, and after a Hedgepeth three-pointer, the Bulldogs extended their lead to 21-11. A Galentine jumper pushed the advantage to 31-15 — Union's largest lead of the night.

Montreat responded with full-court pressure, forcing four turnovers to trim the lead to 31-22. Both teams traded runs late in the half, and the Cavaliers cut the deficit to seven heading into the break.

Union shot 50% from the field (15-of-30) in the first half. Hedgepeth led the way with 17 points, going 5-of-6 from beyond the arc.

Second Half: Union Commonwealth 82, Montreat 81
The teams traded baskets to start the second half before Union built a 17-point lead, 68-51, with 8:41 remaining. Montreat stormed back with a 20-7 run, cutting the score to 75-71 with under four minutes to play.

Both teams would trade scores for the rest of the game, but a late free throw from Rufus gave Union an 82-78 lead with two seconds left. The Cavaliers hit a last-second three-pointer, but it wasn't enough as the Bulldogs held on for the 82-81 win.

Union shot 45.8% from the field in the second half and 55.6% from three-point range. Covington led all scorers after the break with 12 points, while junior guard Kaleb McLendon was perfect from deep, hitting both of his three-point attempts for six points.

To see the Baymont Inn Player of the Game, click here.

Up Next

Union closes out its two-game homestand Monday, Nov. 17, against Bryan. Tipoff is set for 7 p.m. at Robsion Arena.