Caldwell County canned 11 3-pointers — eight in the opening quarter — while turning back Union County 68-52 Tuesday night in Princeton.
Freshman Pax Aikins hit four 3-pointers and led a balanced Tiger offensive attack with 20 points.
Collin Whittington also connected four times from long range and had 16 points. Cade Rowland had three treys while scoring 13 points. Jaydarius Wilson added 13 points, eight rebounds and three blocked shots.
Union (1-1) led 9-8 midway through the first period before back-to-back 3s by Whittington and Aikins put Caldwell in front for good.
Two more 3-pointers by Whittington and Aikins made it 20-11.
Rowland and Aikins finished the opening stanza with bombs to extend the margin to 26-15 after 8 minutes.
Caldwell (2-1) did not connect from behind the arc in the second period, but instead attacked the basket and opened up a 22-point lead, 45-23, at halftime.
Aikins had 15 points at the break while Whittington scored 13 in the first half.
The Tigers used consecutive 3s from Aikins and Rowland in the third period to take their biggest lead of the night at 60-33.
Union countered with its best run of the contest, scoring 11 straight to make it 60-44 with just under 6 minutes to play. But 16 points was as close as the Braves could get down the stretch.
Cameron Miller had 24 points and 10 rebounds to lead Union. Daishawn Curry added 16 points.
Caldwell has now taken back-to-back games from Union. But the Braves still lead the all-time series 50-31.
The Caldwell school record for 3-pointers in a game is 14, accomplished against Hopkinsville in January of 2007.
The Tigers will return to action on Friday when they visit Webster County (3-2).
Union County 15 8 13 16 — 52
Caldwell County 26 19 15 8 — 68
Union County (1-1)—Miller 24, Curry 16, Johnson 6, Black 2, Jai. Wilson 2, Jac. Wilson 2.
Caldwell County (2-1)—Aikins 20, Whittington 16, Rowland 13, J. Wilson 13, Parker 2, K. Wilson 2, Phelps 2.
