ROCHESTER, N.Y. – The Union College men's basketball team outscored Rochester Institute of Technology by 15 points in the second half as the Dutchmen came back for a 59-49 victory in Liberty League action on Saturday afternoon at Clark Gym.
 
Sophomore Mike Concannon led three Dutchmen in double figures with a game-high 16 points and also hauled in a team-best eight rebounds. Classmate Brian Noone added 15 points and five rebounds, followed by senior Kevin Jefferson with 11 points for Union (6-4, 3-2 Liberty League).
 
The defense kept Union in the game during the opening half, forcing 10 turnovers. Despite getting seven more attempts at the net, Union shot just 28.6 percent (10 of 35) and was outrebounded by a 27-18 margin over the first 20 minutes.
 
After RIT (4-7, 1-3 Liberty League) jumped out to an early 9-4 lead, Union settled in and went on a 10-1 run over the next 3:19, with threes by Concannon and classmate Mike Manley sandwiched around buckets by juniors Temi George and Nate Freeman. However, RIT responded with a 15-2 run over the subsequent 6:12 to regain control, leading by as many as 10 points before a Noone jumper and a Jefferson three got Union back within five (28-23) at the break.
 
But following an RIT bucket on their first possession of the second stanza, Union went on a 19-2 tear that spanned nearly six minutes and gave the Dutchmen a comfortable 42-32 lead. Jefferson hit a three to ignite an initial 8-0 run that tied the game at 30, then Concannon put Union back up for good with a three that made the score 35-32. As a team, Union hit 6-of-9 shots and limited RIT to 1-of-8 shooting during the game-changing run.
 
RIT fought back to get within four points on a pair of occasions, but both times Noone answered on the next possession with a three-pointer to increase the Dutchman lead. The visitors then limited the Tigers to one point over the final 3:02 to clinch the win, with Noone hitting three free throws to help clinch the victory.
 
Union hit 10 field goals again in the second half, but shot 6-of-18 from long range and also got to the free-throw line 15 times, hitting 10. RIT, meanwhile, was limited to 25.9 percent (7 of 27) shooting overall and a 2-of-13 mark from beyond the arc in the second half.
 
The Dutchmen will return to Viniar Athletic Center on Tuesday, when the team gets its second crack at Hobart College at 7:30 p.m.