BARBOURVILLE, Ky. – It was a solid team effort for the Asbury University men's basketball team on Tuesday evening at No. 17 Union, but the Eagles fell just short 88-83 in overtime.

Union came back from a 22-point deficit to force overtime and then pulled away in the final minutes of the OT period, out-scoring AU 14-9.

Asbury drops to 5-4 on the year following the loss.

Things went very well for Asbury in the opening half. AU held on to an early lead at 16-8 in a low scoring affair throughout the first 12 minutes of action.

The Eagles then began to heat up offensively as they extended their lead out into double digits. AU went on a 20-12 run to take a commanding 36-20 advantage with under three minutes left.

Union cut the lead down to single digits, but the Eagles remained ahead by nine, at 40-31 at halftime.

Asbury began the second half on a 13-0 run and a basket from Desmond Duke put the Eagles ahead 53-31, the largest lead of the night for AU.

However, the Bulldogs were able to reduce the lead with an 11-1 run to make it a 54-42 ballgame with 12:38 to play.

Union continued to slice lead down further as they tied up the game at 65-65 with under four minutes remaining. In total, it was a 34-12 run for the Bulldogs as they rallied back to even up the score.

With 3:17 to play, Drew Delatte sank a free throw and later on Eric Powell converted on a three-point play to give Asbury a 69-65 lead with just over two minutes left.

A huge three on the wing from Siah Holifield put the Eagles up five at 72-67 with little time remaining, but No. 17 Union would score a bucket down low with two seconds to play to force the overtime period at 74-74. 

The Eagles led briefly at 77-74 following three free throws from Jamiel Goliday. Union turned things around though, and out-scored Asbury 14-6 down the stretch in OT.

Asbury nearly forced double overtime, but missed a shot with 9 seconds left at 85-83, which was rebounded by Union.

Eric Powell led Asbury with 22 points and six rebounds. Siah Holifield scored a season-high 18 points and was 4-6 from three-point land.

Leander Ridgeway and Jamiel Goliday both scored 11 points. Ridgeway also dished out a team-high six assists.

Drew Delatte added seven points and collected 11 rebounds.

Asbury returns to Wilmore for a non-conference matchup with Johnson at the Luce Center on Friday night at 7 PM. The Eagles defeated JU 105-88 on the road last week.