JACKSON, Tenn. — Christian Brothers University men's basketball (8-12, 4-10 GSC) staged a dramatic second-half rally to secure a nail-biting 57-56 victory over Union University (11-9, 7-7 GSC) on Thursday night at Fred DeLay Gymnasium. The win was fueled by key defensive plays and clutch shooting down the stretch, helping the Buccaneers erase a halftime deficit and snap a five-game skid with the victory.

First Half: Christian Brothers Overcomes Early Deficit

CBU opened the game with a strong start, utilizing an early 8-0 run to establish momentum after falling behind 7-2 in the first three minutes. Guard Tane Kirisome led the surge, connecting on a three-pointer at the 15:45 mark, assisted by Allen Hughes.
Despite the Buccaneers' effort, Union responded with sharp shooting from Jeremiah Littlepage, who went 3-of-3 from three-point range and posted 13 points in the first half. The Bulldogs capitalized on scoring opportunities inside, outscoring CBU 18-10 in the paint in the opening frame.

Christian Brothers struggled from beyond the arc in the first half, shooting just 2-of-12 (16.7%), but a crucial second-chance layup by forward Iman Kheirati at the 7:29 mark cut the deficit to one. CBU trailed 31-27 at the break, despite Christian Thompson's strong presence in the paint, where he notched seven first-half points and three rebounds.

Second Half: Defensive Intensity and Timely Shooting Spark Comeback

Christian Brothers intensified its defensive pressure in the second half, forcing key turnovers that shifted momentum. Kheirati's three-pointer at 15:38 cut the Union lead to two points, 39-37, and Kirisome followed with another deep ball at 15:06 to give CBU its first lead since the opening minutes.

The Buccaneers extended their advantage to as many as six points with 13:18 remaining when Thompson finished a tough layup inside. Union, however, answered with a 7-0 run, reclaiming the lead behind a pair of jumpers from Littlepage.
With under two minutes to play, the game became a back-and-forth battle. Kirisome drained a go-ahead three-pointer at the 1:54 mark, giving CBU a 57-56 lead. The Buccaneers then locked in defensively, forcing a critical turnover and coming up with two stops.

Final Defensive Stand Secures Victory

Union had a chance to win in the closing seconds, but the Buccaneers' defense held firm. A missed layup with 45 seconds remaining allowed CBU to regain possession. After missing a one-and-one free throw, Christian Brothers forced a last-second contested three-point attempt from Union's Isaiah Victor, which fell short as time expired.

Kirisome finished with a team-high 15 points, hitting 3-of-8 from deep, while Thompson contributed 14 points and six rebounds. Kheirati added a double-double with 10 points and 15 rebounds, including several crucial second-chance buckets.

Christian Brothers outscored Union 30-25 in the second half and won the rebounding battle 45-32, helping overcome their 33.3 percent shooting from the field.

With the win, CBU regains much-needed momentum heading into the final stretch of the regular season. The Bucs will return to action next Thursday, Feb. 6 when they host Auburn Montgomery at the Canale Arena. 

Game Notes:

• Christian Brothers' defense forced 11 turnovers, leading to nine points off turnovers.
• Union shot just 20 percent from three (4-of-20), struggling to find rhythm from deep.
• CBU held Union to only 25 second-half points, their second-lowest scoring half of the season.