POTSDAM, N.Y. - The Union College men's basketball team fell behind early and could never recover as the Dutchmen dropped a 92-83 matchup to Clarkson University on Saturday afternoon at Alumni Gymnasium.

In his first weekend of play since February 2020, senior Mike Concannon had a big effort with a game-high 20 points on 8-of-12 shooting, leading four Union players in double figures. Classmate Brian Noone chipped in 17 points on 7-of-13 shooting, first-year Aren Cummings added 12 points and a team-best six rebounds, and senior Mike Manley contributed 10 points for Union (0-7, 0-2 Liberty League).

Ryan Miles-Ferguson paced four Clarkson (3-3, 1-1 Liberty League) players in double figures with 19 points, followed by Jack Dalgety with 18 points and Teddy Fravel with 16 points and a game-high eight boards. 

The game did not get off to a good start for the visitors, as Clarkson scored the first 11 points to take early control of the contest. However, Union battled back to even the score at 17 after back-to-back layups by first-year Lemar Fulmore Jr. and sophomore Aidan McGee. But the tie was short lived, as the Golden Knights went on another run, this time a 17-4 stretch that gave the home team a 34-21 lead with 5:51 left in the opening half. The lead ballooned to as many as 19 before a Concannon layup made it a 46-29 Clarkson lead at the break.

Union shot just 35.5 percent (11 of 31) in the opening half, while Clarkson connected at a 54.3 percent (19 of 35) clip.

The visitors had trouble putting much of a dent in the deficit during the second half, with the lead remaining in double figures for nearly 14 minutes. An 8-2 run made it a 79-72 Clarkson lead with 3:38 left in the game, but a Dalgety three on the next possession killed any Union momentum. Concannon made it a seven-point game again with a three with 1:08 on the clock, but Clarkson hit enough free throws the rest of the way to earn the win.

Union shot over 58 percent from the field in the second half to finish the game at 47.8 percent (32 of 67), but that was not enough against a Clarkson team that finished the day at 53.4 percent (31 of 58) from the field and 20-of-23 from the charity stripe.

Union will play its final conference game of 2022 on Tuesday with a matchup at Vassar College beginning at 7:30 p.m.