JACKSON, Tenn. — Mississippi College fell by a final score of 74–69 on Thursday evening to Union University to begin Gulf South Conference play.

In the first half, both teams were nodded in one score contest after an Anthony Ratliff jumper made it 13-12 with the Bulldogs holding a one-point lead with 13:32 to go in the half.

With 4:19 remaining till the break Ratliff once again knocked down a jumper giving Mississippi College a 24-23 lead. The Bulldogs will close out the half on a 10 five run over the final four minutes taking a 33–29 lead into intermission.

In the second half, Union utilized the first five minutes of play to start off on an 18-7 run, giving the Bulldogs an 18 point lead, 51-33. Trailing by 11, 69-58, with 2:17 left in the contest, MC mounted an 11-5 run, closing within five points after Bee McCrary knocked down three free throws with 18-seconds left.

MC ultimately fell by a final score of 74-69, falling to 2-1 overall on the season and 0-1 in GSC play. Galen Smith led the Choctaws with 21 points on 9-of-14 shooting from the field and was 1-for-1 from three point range. Smith also had seven rebounds in the contest.

Miles Miller led MC with nine rebounds on the night, eight assists, while finishing with five points. Bee McCrary had 12 points on 4-of-6 shooting with three assists and a team best three steals Tradavis Thompson tallied nine points and six rebounds in 38 minutes of action.

MC returns to the court on Saturday afternoon on the road at Christian Brothers. The two teams will go head-to-head with tip-off beginning at 4 p.m. in Memphis, Tenn.