POTSDAM, N.Y. – Senior Kevin Jefferson and sophomore Mike Concannon combined for 43 points as the Union College men's basketball team finished off the regular season with a hard-fought 93-85 victory over Clarkson University on Saturday afternoon.
 
Already locked into the fourth seed, Union (15-9, 12-6 Liberty League) will bring a three-game winning streak into the first round of the Liberty League Tournament, where the Dutchmen will face off with fifth-seeded Vassar College. Tipoff is set for Tuesday at 7 p.m. at the Viniar Athletic Center.
 
Jefferson and Concannon played big roles in Union's win on Saturday. Jefferson tied for the game-high with 22 points, hitting 6-of-10 shots from the field and adding five boards and three assists. Concannon also eclipsed the 20-point mark with 21 points, thanks in part to perfect 9-of-9 shooting from the charity stripe.
 
Sophomore Mike Manley (14 points) and junior Andrew Laub (11 points) also reached double figures for Union, while sophomore Brian Noone chipped in nine points and eight boards as well.
 
Union again shot well from long range on Saturday, hitting 11-of-22 attempts from beyond the arc, and finished at 45.6 percent (26 of 57) from the field. The Dutchmen were also superb from the free-throw line, hitting 30-of-32 freebies (93.8 percent).
 
Playing with their conference tournament hopes on the line, Clarkson (7-17, 5-12 Liberty League) gave Union its best shot in the second half. The Golden Knights led by as many as six in the second stanza, but three-pointers from sophomore Chris Lovisolo bookended a 13-3 run that put the visitors up 68-64 with 8:48 remaining.
 
The teams continued to trade the lead for the next few minutes, and eventually the game was tied at 79 with 3:33 on the clock before the Dutchmen made their final move. Concannon hit a three-pointer to put Union back in front, then a block by junior Rhona Eseyade was followed by another Concannon trifecta with 1:15 remaining that doubled the lead to 85-79. The visitors then clinched the game from the free-throw line, as four Dutchmen – Concannon, Jefferson, Manley and Noone – combined to go 8-for-8 in the final minute.
 
Head to UnionAthletics.com early next week for a full tournament preview as the Dutchmen get set to pursue a third Liberty League championship in the last four seasons.