SCHENECTADY, N.Y. – The Union College men's basketball team hung with the top team in the Liberty League for almost the entire 40 minutes, but a late run gave Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute a 85-79 victory on Saturday afternoon at Viniar Athletic Center.
 
Junior Nate Freeman had a huge game in a losing effort for Union (11-7, 8-4 Liberty League), sinking 10-of-16 shots and 6-of-9 from long range on the way to a career-high 27 points. Sophomore Mike Concannon added 18 points while junior Jackson Mannix and sophomore Brian Noone added 11 points each for the Dutchmen as well.
 
Mason Memmelaar came up big for RPI (17-2, 12-0 Liberty League) in the win, hitting 10-of-13 shots to score 23 points along with six boards, four blocks and three assists. Patrick Mahoney also had several big buckets late in the game as part of a 21-point effort for the Engineers.
 
In a battle befitting two of the conference's top teams, the game featured 12 lead changes and five tie scores over the 40 minutes.
 
Freeman gave Union its last lead of the game with 8:27 to go, capping a 9-0 run with a three-pointer that put the home team up 63-61. However, RPI engineered a 10-3 run over the next 3:25 of action, hitting five straight shots to take a 76-69 lead with 1:41 remaining. Memmelaar scored six of the team's 10 points during the run, including a jumper that answered a three by sophomore Chris Lovisolo to put the visitors up for good at 68-66.
 
Freeman sunk two more shots from long-range to keep the Dutchmen close, but Memmelaar hit a big shot with 1:15 on the clock to make it a 78-72 game and Union could not make up enough ground by fouling the rest of the way.
 
Both teams shot the ball well, as RPI connected at a 58.9 percent (33 of 56) clip and Union shot 50.0 percent (29 of 58). The Engineers controlled play in the paint, however, posting a 36-22 edge on the glass and holding a decisive 48-22 edge on points in the paint.
 
Unlike the teams' last meeting, Union shot the ball well to start the contest, jumping out to an 11-4 lead. The Dutchmen maintained its advantage for the next four minutes, after which the lead changed hands five times in the span of 2:57. The Dutchmen did not trail over the final 5:08 of the half after a Freeman three put Union up 28-25, but RPI scored six of the final eight points to tie the game at 40 at the half.
 
Union will close out the home portion of its schedule next weekend, beginning on Friday at 7:30 p.m. against Skidmore College.