Box Score

MIDDLEBURY, Vt. The Middlebury College men's basketball team improved to 5-0 on the season with a 68-64 win over Union (2-1). Leading 24-21, Middlebury closed the first half on a 12-4 run to take a 36-25 lead into the intermission. The lead grew to as many as 13 in the second half, before the Dutchmen made a charge. A 12-0 run at the 13:58 mark cut the advantage to a pair at 45-43. Union would take its first lead since the opening bucket at the 8:47 mark on a lay up from Jim Rahill (Buffalo, NY/Canisius), putting them ahead 48-47. Middlebury led by four with 2:29 remaining when Ben Rudin stole the ball and converted the layup to give the Panthers a six-point lead. On their next possession, Rudin completed a three-point play and then knocked down a pair of free throws with 1:13 left to make it a 65-59 game. John Cagianello (Wethersfield, CT/Loomis Chaffee) brought Union back as was fouled converting a shot. The Dutchmen grabbed the rebound on the missed free throw, with Cagianello knocking down a three to make it a one-point game at 65-64. Following a timeout, Middlebury worked the clock down to 10 seconds when Rudin found an open Kyle Dudley who knocked down the baseline three to seal the game. Dudley led the Panthers with 18 points, Ben Ruden scored 16 and dished out eight assists, while Andrew Harris had 10. Evan Thompson had a game-high 13 boards in the game. Cagianello paced Union with a game-high 33 points on 10 of 17 shooting, while Brian Scordato (Mt. kisco, NY/Horace Greeley) added 11. Union will play at Williams on Tuesday night at 8 p.m., and is home against Carnegie Mellon on Sat., December 10 at 3 p.m.