POUGHKEEPSIE, NY – After losing to rival RPI the previous night, Union College men's basketball team bounced back with a dominant 76-59 win over Vassar College on Saturday afternoon.
 
Union improves to 12-7 on the year, climbing to second place in the Liberty League with a conference record of 8-5.
 
Kevin Weckworth hit a three from several feet behind the arc that started Union off to an early 7-2 lead. Seven minutes into the first half, senior forward Matt Liquori hit a nice three of his own, growing Union's lead to 12-6.
 
Vassar eventually worked its deficit down to one point with eight minutes remaining in the half, but Weckworth made a step-back mid-range shot that set the score at 19-16. On the ensuing possession he nabbed a steal and flew down the court to attempt a layup that ended in two free throws, bringing the Dutchmen lead to 21-16.
 
Union grew its lead to double digits when Liquori swished a step-back jumper that brought the score to 27-17 with five minutes remaining in the first half. However, Vassar cut its deficit in half before going into the break, trailing 32-27.
 
Liquori and Weckworth were both significant contributors to the Union lead in the first half. Liquori led Union in first-half rebounds with five, and was second to only Weckworth in points with nine. Weckworth meanwhile led Union in points with 15, steals with two, and average points-per-minute (.750).
 
Weckworth scored his 20th point just three minutes into the second half, driving to the rim to bank in a layup that brought the Union to nine. Liquori later got a steal and drove down the lane to bring defensive attention to the middle, but quickly lined a pass to a wide open Kevin McNoble who swished a three that set the score at 46-37 five minutes into the second half.
 
Liquori did the exact same thing a few minutes later, except the recipient of the pass was the wide-open freshman Jackson Mannix who nailed a three to grow the Union lead to 12 midway through the second half. Liquori was a multi-dimensional contributor throughout the game as he finished with 14 points while shooting 66-percent from the floor, had two steals, two blocks, and a team-leading 12 rebounds.
 
With six minutes left in the game, McNoble sped towards the basket and dished the ball to Greg King in the corner who hit the three that set the score at 61-47, forcing Vassar to call a timeout with 6:28 to go.
 
With the shot clock ticking away, Union set two screens for Weckworth that set up an open jumper, bringing Union's lead to 18 with less than four minutes left in the contest. Weckworth finished the game with 28 points, three assists, and two steals. Union would go on to win the game comfortable as both teams cleared their benches in the final three minutes. 

Union returns to the Viniar Athletic Center next week to face Bard College on Feb. 6 for an 8 p.m. (ET) tip off.