POTSDAM, NY -- A near nine-minute stretch without a point turned a double digit lead into a multiple-possession deficit as the Clarkson University men's basketball team fell to Union College 53-48 Friday evening at Alumni Gymnasium.

The Golden Knights moved to 15-6 overall on the season and 7-5 in the Liberty League, while Union solidified its spot near the top of the Liberty League standings at 10-3 and 18-4 overall. The Dutchmen, in second place with three regular season league games remaining, have a two game lead over multiple teams.

For Union, Joe Mason had a double-double with 13 points and 11 boards, his second double-double of the season, and Keven Donohue nearly matched that effort with 15 points and eight rebounds as well as three blocked shots. Brian DeBisschop also had 10 points and seven rebounds for the Dutchmen.

In stark contrast to the first meeting, neither team could get much going offensively in the second contest. Union shot 18.8% (6-for-32) in the first half, and was able to stay within striking distance of the Golden Knights with six free throws, as the two teams combined to score just 48 points in the first half. Compared to the previous game, the two teams had tallied that many points in just over 13 minutes.

But a nine-minute stretch in the second half that changed the face of the game. Clarkson led by 11 points, 33-22, following a Marques Charlton 3-point field goal at 18:33. Following that make, the Knights went cold from the field, but the Dutchmen made a 17-0 run to convert the 11-point deficit into a six-point advantage. Clarkson wouldn't allow Union to run away from the game, though, pulling back to within one. A Felix Abongo 3-pointer pulled Clarkson within three points late, but the Knights could only muster one more point the rest of the way.

Similarly to the first contest, Union warmed up in the second half, shooting 55.6% from the field in the final 20 minutes, while Clarkson made just eight shots in 29 attempts (27.6%).

Charlton finished with 13 points to lead Clarkson, adding in five assists, while Abongo contributed 11 rebounds.

Donohue now has 1,429 career points for Union, and moved into fifth all-time in career scoring annals. Fourth place is Jim Tedisco '72 with 1,632 points.

Union will play at St. Lawrence Saturday at 4 p.m.