Postgame Press Conference

PLATTSBURGH, NY -- The Union College men's basketball team erased an 11-point halftime deficit to keep its season alive, defeating New Jersey City 76-72 in the first round of the 2018 NCAA DIII Men's Basketball Championship on Friday night at Memorial Hall.
 
Union's effort and heart was obvious throughout the contest as they out rebounded the Gothic Knights 34-47. The Dutchmen also earned 36 trips to the free throw line.
 
Union found itself down four minutes into the first half, but effective ball movement led to an open three for Greg King that tied the game at five. The majority of both teams' points in the first half came from chaotic fast break and fouls.
 
Missed opportunities and a disparity in foul calls resulted in New Jersey City breaking the 30-point mark to pull away from the Dutchmen. With three minutes left in the first half, Union faced a double-digit deficit. Despite, freshman Jackson Mannix hitting a deep, high-arching three that cut the NJCU lead to nine, but the Gothic Knights made layup at the buzzer to claim a 34-45 lead at halftime.
 
Union began to find its offensive rhythm early in the second half as the Dutchmen went on a 12-0 run that ended in a Garrett Johnson three to set the score at 46-48 at the 3:55 mark.
 
Union grabbed its first lead of the second half when Kevin McNoble dished a nice bounce pass underneath an NJCU defender to an open Matt Liquori who hit the wide-open layup.
 
The entire second half was rampant with lead changes, but Garret Johnson hit a nice reverse layup high off the glass which gave Union a 64-63 lead with five minutes left to go in the game, a lead that the Dutchmen would not relinquish for the remainder of the game.
 
The two sides would trade trips to the free throw line in the final minutes, but Union held on for the 76-72 lead.
 
Union advances to the second round of the NCAA tournament and will face the winner of Plattsburgh State and Nichols tomorrow, March 3, at 7 p.m. (ET) back at Memorial Hall.