Men's Basketball Flexes Offensive Muscles in AAC Romp

BARBOURVILLE, Ky. - Union College men's basketball's offense was clicking and the defense was stifling as the Bulldogs cruised to a 111-64 Appalachian Athletic Conference (AAC) victory over visiting Johnson University (Tenn.) on Saturday.

The win is Union's sixth in a row as it improves to 12-6 overall and 10-2 in conference play. Johnson falls to 6-11 overall and 4-9 in the AAC.

SEIZING CONTROL EARLY

The Bulldogs took a few minutes to get rolling. Up 12-10 at the 15:40 mark, Union embarked on a 24-2 run to open up a 36-12 cushion with 8:48 still to go in the half. The Bulldogs buried four 3-pointers during the surge with Jordan Pumphrey netting seven points. Union coasted into halftime on an 8-0 run in taking a 57-23 cushion at the break. Terrin Hamilton accounted for the final six points of the period.

It was more of the same in the second half as the margin dipped below 32 and the Bulldogs led by as much as 49 in locking up the 111-64 victory.

BALANCED ATTACK

To say everyone contributed to the win is an understatement. No starter played more than 22 points, and while five players scored in double figures, no one scored more than 13 points.

Pumphrey, Hamilton, Markelle Turner, and Conner Kelley all netted 13 points to lead Union in scoring. Blake Ervin was next in line with 11.

The Bulldogs shot 56.4 percent (44-of-78) from the field and hit 13-of-34 (38.2 percent) from 3-point range. Union connected on 10-of-13 (76.9 percent) at the line.

SHARING THE WEALTH

For the third time in the last four games and for the fourth time overall, Union dished out over 20 assists in the win. The Bulldogs collected a season-high 28 assists with Turner's six leading the way. Deonte Douglas handed out five, while Pumphrey and Kelley each had four.

BLOCK PARTY

The Bulldogs blocked nine shots on the night with Andre Silva notching five to give him 57 on the year. Josh Falls added three blocks with Ervin having one.

BULLDOG NOTES

• This is the first time Union has won by 40 or more points since defeating Allen University (S.C.) 122-80 on Dec. 7, 2016.
• Union outrebounded Johnson 45-35 with Israel Farrington's eight leading the way.
• This is the second time this season the Bulldogs scored over 100 points. Union defeated St. Andrews University (N.C.) 115-87 on Dec. 11.
• The Bulldog bench accounted for 58 points.

NEXT FOR THE BULLDOGS

Union opens a four-game road trip on Tuesday at Reinhardt University (Ga.). The AAC game will tip off at 7:30 p.m.