Box Score | Game Highlights

TROY, N.Y. - Sophomore forward Jackson Mannix scored 29 points on 11 of 15 shooting and the Union College men's basketball team made 54.3% of its shots in defeating Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI) 72-69 in a Liberty League contest at East Campus Arena. The Dutchmen improve to 8-7 overall and 4-5 in the conference, while the Engineers fall to 10-6 and 5-4.

Down two points midway through the second half, Union used a 13-2 advantage to build a 58-49 lead. Mike Concannon made a jump shot and Nate Freeman scored on a layup for a two-point lead. Mannix followed with a three-pointer, which was answered by a Tom Horvat steal and layup. Mannix connected again from downtown - he was 7 of 9 from behind the arc in the contest - to make it a six point edge and Concannon turned it into a nine point lead (58-49) with just under seven minutes to play.

Patrick Mahoney and Mannix traded three pointers and a Temi George free throw gave the visitors a 10-point margin with five minutes left (62-52). An 11-2 run by Rensselaer, which included a jumper from Andreas Kontopidis, a three and a two from Mahoney, a layup from Kontopidis and a three from the left side of the arc by Dom Black got RPI even (64-64) with 1:34 to play. 

Concannon, a freshman, followed with a three from the top of the key with a minute remaining and Kevin McNoble made two free throws 30 seconds later for a 69-64 lead. A turnaround jumper from deep in the right corner by Horvat made it 69-67 before McNoble hit on 1 of 2 free throws with 13 seconds left. Kontopidis scored on a put-back with three seconds remaining, but McNoble made both ends of a 1-and-1 for a 72-69 lead with a second remaining. An RPI three quarter court shot sailed wide and Union won for the second straight game and fourth time in its last six.

The Engineers began the game with a 7-0 lead on a pair of baskets from Kontopidis and one from Black and they built their advantage to 10 points, 23-13, just past the midway point of the opening half. The Dutchmen battled back, in large part due to the long-range shooting of Mannix, and eventually took a 34-33 lead on a McNoble three-pointer with 2:49 left in the first half. RPI scored the next five points for a 38-34 edge, but a Mike Manley three made it 38-37 at halftime.

Mannix had 17 points on 7 of 9 shooting in the first half for the Dutchmen, who made 53.8% (14 of 26) of their shots. McNoble added eight points. Kontopidis (5 of 6) had 13 first half points with five rebounds for the Engineers, who were 15 for 33 (45.5%) from the field in the first half. Black (4 of 6) chipped in with nine points.

In addition to his 29 points in the game, Mannix also contributed a team-high six rebounds. McNoble finished with 17 points - 7 of 9 from the free throw line - and Concannon scored 13 points with two rebounds and two assists. The Dutchmen made 25 of 46 shots, including 13 of 23 (56.5%) from three point range.

Kontopidis led the Engineers with 24 points, along with seven rebounds. Horvat finished with 14 points and four steals, while Black had 12 points. Mahoney also reached double digits with 10 points while also securing five rebounds. RPI connected on 43.1% (28 of 65) of its field goal attempts including 9 of 25 (36.0%) from behind the arc.

Rensselaer hits the road for its next two games beginning on Friday at RIT (7pm). The Dutchmen are home to Skidmore on Friday at 7pm.