Tied at 41 at the beginning of the fourth quarter, the Emery Spartans went on a 14-3 run to close the book on the Union Cougars. Talon Tuttle led the Spartans with 16 points as the Spartans triumphed over the Cougars 74-63.

The Spartans started the game with an 11-0 run and ended the first period with a 18-9 advantage. Creek Sharp scored four points in the first quarter to lead Emery.

Union found success on both sides of the ball in the second quarter, outscoring the Spartans 18-13. Talon Tuttle’s eight points helped the Spartans take a 31-27 lead into the halftime break.

Third quarter woes continued for the Spartans, and Union took their first lead of the game at the 5:33 mark of the third quarter after a 12-2 run. Five different Spartans scored in the quarter, but Union managed to tie the game at 41 by the end of the third period.

Emery started the fourth quarter on a 14-3 run and made clutch free throws down the stretch to close the door on Union, 74-63. Talon Tuttle scored eight points in the quarter to seal the Spartan win.

“We started out really hot in that first quarter,” said head coach Dave Justice. “And then in that second and third, until about two minutes left in that third, we were ice cold. It’s the mark of a mentally tough team, and a good team...to fight back and start the fourth quarter the way we did.”

“We started the third quarter like turtles,” said junior guard Wade Stilson. “We were extremely slow and sluggish. We knew we needed to step it up in the fourth, that’s what we did. We closed it out.”

Talon Tuttle scored 16 points on 3-5 shooting from three-point range to lead the Spartans Friday night. Luke Justice added 14 points, two rebounds and five assists. Brett Rasmussen recorded a double-double, 11 points and 10 rebounds, to go with three blocks to anchor the Spartan defense. Wade Stilson finished with a solid 11 points, four rebounds, four assists, two blocks and two steals. Creek Sharp scored seven points and played well defensively in his first start of the season.