Box Score

SCHENECTADY, NY -- Junior Drew Goldstein scored 18 points and senior Joey Lokitis added 17 a game high seven assists as the Union men's basketball team opened the home season with a 78-69 win over Southern Vermont at the Viniar Athletic Center Tuesday night. The Dutchmen evened their season mark to 2-2 while the Mountaineers fell to 2-4. 

Matt Covucci, one of the three captains along with Goldstein and Lokitis, added 11 points and Rusmir Dzanko added 10 more for the Dutchmen. Joseph Mason dished out four assists.

Junior guard Lance Spratling (Pittsfield, MA) had a double double for Southern Vermont. He posted game highs with 28 points and 12 rebounds. Brett Clatworthy (Argyle, NY) scord 15 points and Cameron Herrington (Cambridge, NY) had 10 with a game high four assists for the Mountaineers.

Union shot 47% for the night and had a 40-32 rebounding advantage, while Southern Vermont shot 45%.

Union had a 37-30 halftime lead. With 11:17 remaining, Spratling made two free throws to pull the Mountaineers to within six at 53-47. But Union then went on a 17-4 run in a span of 5:39 in taking a game best 19 point lead with a Lokitis three pointer for a 70-51 advantage with 5:38 left in the second half. Lokitis scored 14 of his points in the second half.

The Dutchmen, who do not return home again until January 4, begin a stretch of four straight road games before the holiday break. Union plays at SUNYIT Thursday at 7 p.m. Southern Vermont competes at the RPI Tri-State Shootout this weekend, starting tourney play vs. the Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts Saturday at 6 p.m.