Box Score

COBLESKILL, NY -- The Union College men's basketball team opened the season with a 54-52 loss on Tuesday evening at SUNY Cobleskill's Iorio Gymnasium. The victory put the Fighting Tigers into the win column for the season with a 1-4 overall record.

Trailing 52-50 with 49 seconds left in regulation Dutchmen forward Rusmir Dzanko canned a pair of free throws to tie the contest at 52-52. The Fighting Tigers then spread the floor and worked the ball around the perimeter finding junior swingman Damon Franklin, who attacked the basket and nailed a 12 foot turnaround jump shot in the lane with 14 seconds remaining in regulation.

The visitors called a time out with five seconds left in regulation. However on the ensuing inbounds play Franklin made a steal and dribbled out the clock to give the Fighting Tigers the win.

Franklin proved to be the catalyst throughout the evening leading all scorers with 17 points to go along with a team high of six rebounds. He also had five assists and three steals while Damion Longmore added 10 points. Craig Orner had eight points, five rebounds, and three assists.

Dzanko led the Dutchman in scoring with 13 points on the evening while senior guard Joey Lokitis, contributed 12 points, seven rebounds and four assists.

Union will next travel to Danbury, CT on Friday to meet Medgar Evers College in the opening round of the WestConn Tournament hosted by Western Connecticut State University beginning at 8:00 PM.