POTSDAM, N.Y. – The Union College men's basketball team came up just short on Saturday afternoon, falling to Clarkson University by the score of 69-66 in a Liberty League matchup at Alumni Gymnasium.
 
All 10 players that took a shot hit at least one field goal for Union (9-13, 5-11 Liberty League), which is eliminated from postseason contention with the loss. Freshman Mike Concannon led the Dutchmen with 13 points, while senior Kevin McNoble posted his second double-double in three games, hauling in a game-high 13 rebounds and adding 11 points, six assists and two steals.
 
Clarkson (5-17, 4-11 Liberty League) jumped out of the gates quickly, taking a 14-6 lead 5:51 into the contest thanks to 4-of-5 shooting from beyond the arc. A three-pointer from senior Ben Lee kick started a mini 7-0 run that got Union back within a point at the midway point of the half, and then the visitors took their first lead since the opening minute thanks to a string of 10 straight points featuring two Concannon threes in between a dunk by sophomore Rhona Eseyade dunk and a layup by classmate Temi George.
 
The Dutchmen shot 50 percent (6 of 12) from beyond the arc and 48.4 percent (15 of 31) overall over the opening 20 minutes, led by Concannon with 11 points helped by 3-of-3 shooting from long range. In all, nine different Dutchmen had at least two points in the half.
 
A three-pointer from freshman Mike Manley and a layup by classmate Brian Noone put Union up 53-48 with 10:25 left in the second half, but Clarkson rattled off 14 straight points over the next 4:45 to take a 62-53 lead with 5:41 on the clock. The Dutchmen stormed back to even the score entering the final minute, as back-to-back threes from McNoble and Noone capped an 11-2 run that knotted the score at 66 with 1:21 on the clock.
 
After both teams missed opportunities to regain the lead, Clarkson struck the decisive blow with 33 seconds on the clock with a Jason Phelps three, and one last chance for Union did not connect in the final seconds.
 
Union could not keep up its solid shooting in the second half, hitting only 9-of-28 shots to finish the game at 40.7 percent (24 for 49). Skidmore finished with two more field goals, hitting at a 41.3 percent (26 of 63) clip.
 
The Dutchmen will close out the season with a pair of games at the Viniar Athletic Center next weekend, beginning on Friday night at 7 p.m. against Rochester Institute of Technology.