Last-Second Shot Sends Union Back on Its Throne

KINGSPORT, Tenn. - The matchup befitting a championship showdown, and the clash more than delivered as top-seeded Union ascended back to its throne with a 77-75 victory to claim the 2024 Appalachian Athletic Conference (AAC) Men's Basketball Tournament championship on Saturday.

Union had won nine tournament titles in a row until Columbia International claimed the crown last year. The third-seeded Rams gave the Bulldogs all it had, but in the end, a Deonte Douglas last-second layup secured the title for Union.

The game was tight throughout with Columbia International's largest lead being six with Union's biggest margin being eight.

Union led 37-36 at the half and stayed in front for much of the second half. The Bulldogs appeared to be on their way to having the game locked up when Markelo Sullivan scored with 2:42 to play to make it 74-66. However, the Rams cut the margin to 75-70 before quickly tying the game in a ferocious six-second span. Jalen Brinson hit a pair of free throws with 24 seconds to go, and following a Union turnover, Darrian Oates converted an old-fashioned, three-point play to make it 75-all with 18 seconds remaining.

The Bulldogs held the ball to eat up as much of the clock as possible, and then Douglas drove the lane and hit a layup to make it 77-75 with 2.2 seconds to play.

Columbia International attempted a desperation 3-pointer, but it was off target, sealing Union's 10th tournament title in 11 years.

Sullivan finished with a game-high 24 points in earning Tournament MVP honors. Joining him on the All-Tournament Team were Douglas and Markelle Turner of Union, Dianthony Heathcock and Oates of Columbia International, Isaiah Poore of Johnson, and Issac Stanback of Pikeville.

Union had already earned an automatic berth to the national tournament as the regular-season champions. Therefore, the second automatic bid goes to Pikeville as the regular-season runner-up.

Tournament Schedule
Wednesday, Feb. 28
Game 1 - No. 8 Tennessee Wesleyan (12-14) def. No. 9 Montreat (14-15), 87-77 (box)
Game 2 - No. 10 Truett McConnell (12-17) def. No. 7 Reinhardt (12-16), 95-72 (box)

Thursday, Feb. 29
Game 3 - No. 5 Johnson (16-12) def. No. 4 Milligan (14-13), 73-70 (box)
Game 4 - No. 1 Union (23-6) def. No. 8 Tennessee Wesleyan (12-15), 76-75 (OT) (box)
Game 5 - No. 2 Pikeville (23-6) def. No. 10 Truett McConnell (12-18), 80-73 (box)
Game 6 - No. 3 Columbia International (19-10) vs. No. 6 Bryan (15-13), 72-68 (box)

Friday, March 1
Game 7 - No. 1 Union (24-6) def. No. 5 Johnson (16-13), 85-73 (box)
Game 8 - No. 3 Columbia International (20-10) def. No. 2 Pikeville (23-7), 91-86 (OT) (box)

Saturday, March 2
Game 9 - Championship Game - No. 1 Union (25-6) def. No. 3 Columbia International (20-11), 77-75 (box)