Box Score

TROY, N.Y. – Freshman Nick DiMaggio (Croton-on-Hudson, NY/Croton-Harmon) tallied a game-high 26 points to lead Union College to a 79-76 victory over Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI) in Liberty League men’s basketball action at Robison Gym. With the victory, the Dutchmen improve to 5-7 and remain undefeated in league play at 2-0. The Red Hawks are now 7-5 with an 0-1 Liberty League record.

Offense dominated the opening half as both teams shot over 50.0% from the field. DiMaggio led the way for the Dutchmen, going 6 for 8 from inside the arc to tally 14 first half points. Union jumped out to a 17-10 lead at the 14-minute mark, but the Red Hawks battled back into the game, narrowing the Dutchmen lead to 27-26 with just 8:42 remaining.

Senior Clay Hadley (LaGrange, IL/Lyons Township), who posted a team-high 16 points, kept RPI in the mix late in the opening frame after draining a trio of three-pointers to make it 30-26, but nine consecutive points from DiMaggio gave Union the 45-40 lead at halftime.

Rensselaer would battle back in the second frame, going on a 5-0 run to tie the game at 45-all. Senior guard Neal Wesson (Portsmouth, RI/Portsmouth) gave the Red Hawks their first lead with a quick jumper at 17:15 (49-47), but the Dutchmen refused to back down and led by 14 points (71-57) with just under eight minutes remaining.

Seizing their moment as time ran off the clock, RPI mounted an 11-point turnaround to close the gap to 74-73 at the 1:23 mark. A costly foul sent Union’s Joe Mackey (Flushing, NY/Archbishop Malloy) to the line and the senior guard drained a trio of free throws to extend the Union lead 77-73. After a free throw from Wesson, Rensselaer attempted to sink numerous three-pointers to tie the game, but none would fall in, helping Union secure the victory.

In addition to DiMaggio, who went 10 of 14 (71.0%) from the field, Union saw Mackey and junior center Kyle Grimm (Sherrill, NY/Vernon-Verona-Sherrill) reach double figures. Mackey had 14 points, while Grimm chipped in 13 total.

The Red Hawks, which were led in scoring by Hadley, also saw junior Sam Simmons (Newburgh, NY/Newburgh Free Academy) post a double-double of 14 points and a game-high 10 rebounds, including three offensive. Wesson also reached double figures in the game with 11 points.

RPI returns to the court tomorrow afternoon against Skidmore (4pm) while Union heads to Vassar for a contest against the Brewers (4pm).