Cougar News

(New Albany, Indiana) - Union College from Barbourville, Ky. came back from a 36-31 halftime deficit and outscored Mid-Continent University, 34-25, in the second half enroute to a 65-61 victory over the Cougars in collegiate men's basketball action at the Joe B. Hall and Denny Crum Classic, hosted by Indiana-University Southeast in New Albany. Union (2-5) won its first two games of the season at the Classic this weekend, defeating Cincinnati-Clermont and MCU. MCU fell to 1-5.

     MCU travels for all three of its games next week: Monday, Nov. 17, at Christian Brothers (exhibition) in Memphis, at 7:00; Wednesday, Nov. 19, a rematch against NAIA ninth-ranked McKendree in Lebanon, Illinois, at 7:00, and Saturday, Nov. 22, at Kentucky State (exhibition) in Frankfort, at 7:30.

    Mid-Continent held a 15-4 lead after 6 minutes of play, but Union cut the margin to 23-22 with 5:51 left and 32-31 with 2:09 remaining in the first half. MCU led 36-31 at halftime with junior center Kenny Thomas (Orange, NJ/Orange HS/Essex County College, NJ) scoring 9 points and grabbing 4 rebounds. Union was led in the first half by guard Michael Hester and forward Brett Miller with 9 points each.

     After shooting .500 from the field in the first half (15-30), MCU shot a dismal .320 (8-25) from the field in the second half, and made just one of its 11 three-point attempts. Meanwhile, Union improved its shooting from .370 to .458 (11-24) in the second half. Mid-Continent began the second half strongly, taking a 42-31 lead with 17:24 left on a three-pointer by junior guard TiRon Peoples (Paducah, KY/Heath HS). But Union outscored MCU, 18-7, and tied the score at 49-49 on Miller's basket with 7:54 left.

     Union gaining its biggest lead, 56-51, with 6:14 left. MCU tied the game at 56-56, 59-59, and 60-60, but Union went ahead to stay, 62-60, with 1:06 left on a pair of free throws by reserve Anthony Coote, who iced the game with a steal with Union leading 64-61 with 14 seconds left.

     MCU shot .418 (23-55) from the field for the game, made 5 of 23 from beyond the three-point arc, and 10 of 16 free throws (.625). MCU committed 23 costly turnovers, stole the ball 12 times and outrebounded Union, 38-36.  Thomas finished with 18 points, on 7 of 8 shots, and 8 rebounds in 18 minutes of action, and Peoples, making his first start of the season, totaled 13 points, 2 three-pointers, 5 rebounds, and 3 assists after scoring 18 Friday night against Indiana-Southeast.  Junior guard Joshua Woodley (Lake Worth, FL/Santaluces HS/Palm Beach CC) added 7 points, 4 rebounds and 2 assists in a reserve role.

     Miller led Union with 15 points, 6 rebounds and 2 steals, and Hester finished with 14 points, 3 rebounds, 5 assists, and 3 steals. Forward Kearney Demus contributed 10 points. Union shot .412 from the field (21-51), made 4 of 19 three-pointers, and 19 of 30 free throws, and committed 22 turnovers. Union stole the ball from MCU 13 times.