SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. – Senior Christian Dufort scored a team-leading 21 points against his hometown team to lead the Union College men's basketball team to an 81-73 Liberty League victory over Skidmore College on Tuesday night at Williamson Athletic Center.
 
A native of Saratoga Springs, Dufort led Union (13-4, 9-1 Liberty League) by shooting 6-of-10 from the field and sinking five three-pointers, helping Union back into a tie for first place in the conference with eight games remaining. Junior Matthew Garside scored 20 points on 5-of-6 shooting from long range with seven boards and five assists while classmate Jack Plesser added 19 points and eight rebounds.
 
The teams traded baskets over the first three minutes before a three from Dufort and a Plesser layup provided the last lead change of the evening at 9-7. A 14-4 stretch over the next eight minutes pushed Union's lead into double figures for the first time at 28-17 with 5:19 on the clock after a three from junior Tanner Tedesco. The visitors closed on a 9-2 stretch to gain its largest lead of the half, going into the locker rooms up 40-24 after a layup by sophomore Scott Schmitt.
 
Union shot 48.5 percent (16 of 33) from the field and 53.3 percent (8 of 15) from long range in the opening half, while limiting Skidmore to just 25.0 percent (8 of 32) shooting.
 
Union increased its lead to as many as 23 points on two occasions in the second half, the last coming after a pair of Dufort free throws put the visitors up 60-37 with 12:42 remaining. Skidmore outscored Union by a 30-13 margin over the next 9:37 to get within two possessions with 3:05 on the clock, but a basket from Plesser and two free throws each from Tedesco, Garside and sophomore Will Yakoobian helped to seal the win.
 
The visitors only shot 39.1 percent from the field in the second half, but were an efficient 6-of-9 from beyond the arc and also got to the free-throw line 20 times, hitting 70 (85.0 percent). The Thoroughbreds ended the game shooting 36.8 percent (25 of 68) from the field.
 
The Garnet Chargers will return to action on Friday with a 7:30 p.m. matchup against Ithaca College at Viniar Athletic Center.