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SCHENECTADY, N.Y. – Junior
Andrew Laub exploded for a career-high 21 points and sophomore
Brian Noone added a career-best 19 as the Union College men's basketball team outscored Clarkson University by 21 points in the second half on the way to a 74-57 victory in the teams' Liberty League opener on Friday night at the Viniar Athletic Center.
Laub had the best game of his career in the win, leading all players with 21 points on 9-of-12 shooting in addition to grabbing 11 rebounds. Noone hit 5-of-7 shots from the field and 8-of-11 attempts from the line on the way to 19 points and also hauled in 11 boards. Junior
Nate Freeman also reached double figures with 11 points for Union (3-0, 1-0 Liberty League).
Clarkson (2-4, 0-1 Liberty League) hit their first three shots of the game from beyond the arc and controlled much of the opening half, leading by as many as 14 points (33-19) with 3:53 to go. However, Union got back into the game with a 10-0 run to close the half, with Noone and Freeman scoring five points each.
The Dutchmen scored the first five points of the second half as well, limiting Clarkson to 0-of-9 shooting to take back the lead at 34-33. The Golden Knights finally got on the board 4:39 into the half to regain the lead, but Laub sunk a pair of free throws on the next possession then added a layup to put the home team back on top.
The Golden Knights got within two points on three occasions, the last coming after a pair of Roburt Welch free throws that made the score 46-44 with 11:14 left. But Laub scored seven points as part of a subsequent 12-2 run that put the home team up by double figures with under eight minutes to go and put the game out of reach.
Union hit 12-of-21 shots in the second half to finish the game at 47.1 percent (24 of 51) from the field, while limiting Clarkson to 29.4 percent (20 of 68) shooting at the other end. Led by Laub, the Dutchmen dominated in the paint with a 40-18 scoring edge, while also posting a 39-19 advantage in bench points.
Union will look to remain undefeated tomorrow when the Dutchmen host St. Lawrence University at the Viniar Athletic Center beginning at 4 p.m.
