News Release

SCHENECTADY, NY — Led by 21 points from senior Joe Mackey (Flushing, NY/ Archbishop Molloy) and a double-double from Kyle Grimm (Sherrill, NY/ Vernon-Verona-Sherrill), the Union College men’s basketball team cruised to a 94-54 win over Skidmore in Liberty League action at the Viniar Athletic Center Tuesday evening. Union received 45 points off the bench as Joey Lokitis (Norton, MA/ Phillips Academy), Jim Clifford (New Hartford, NY/ New Hartford) and Nick Ciresi (Kings Park, NY/ Kings Park) all had double-digit efforts in the Dutchmen’s largest victory since a 93-52 win over Vassar last February.

Union (9-9, 6-2 Liberty) held the lead from the get-go, jumping out to a 9-0 lead within the first four minutes, capped by a three-pointer by Mackey, who shot a perfect seven-for-seven, including six three-pointers on the night. Mackey was also a perfect one-for-one at the line and added two defensive boards.

The Dutchmen then made a 22-11 run to extend their lead to 20 points midway through the first half before Bobby Langford (Worcester, MA/ Holy Name) sank a jumper to make the score 31-13 in favor of the home team.

Union closed the half on a 24-12 run, highlighted by 14 points in the half by Mackey, and held a 55-25 lead at halftime. Skidmore (2-16, 1-7 Liberty) was led by 11 first-half points from sophomore guard Matthew Belsito (New York, NY/ Collegiate School).

The teams played close in the opening of the second half, each netting nine points in the first 10 minutes before Union extended its lead to 71-34 with 12 minutes remaining. Skidmore fought back to within 31 with just over four minutes remaining and had eight second-half points from freshman Jon Douglas (Shutesbury, MA/ Amherst Regional), but Union’s bench carried the Dutchmen through.

Union shot 58.8% in the first half and 54.8% overall from beyond the arc, while Skidmore struggled at 37.3% on the night. The Dutchmen held a 20-16 advantage in points in the paint, and capitalized with 12 points off of 11 Thoroughbreds turnovers.

Skidmore vs Union
1/30/07 8:00 PM at Viniar Athletic Center
At Viniar Athletic Center
UNION 94, SKIDMORE 54
SKIDMORE (2-16, 1-7 LL)
Matthew Belsito 4-11 1-1 11; Jon Douglas 4-10 1-2 10; Bobby Langford 3-8 0-2
6; Ryan Fischer-Werner 3-6 0-0 6; J.Haviland-Markowitz 2-8 0-0 4; Jake
Shechtman 2-5 0-0 4; Ivan Paladin 1-1 0-0 3; Harry Zwick 1-2 0-0 3; Rob
Moore 1-2 0-0 3; Jay King 1-2 0-0 3; Brian Perrier 0-2 1-2 1; Dave Stein 0-1
0-0 0; Eric Silverman 0-1 0-0 0. Totals 22-59 3-7 54.
UNION (9-9, 6-2 LL)
Joe Mackey 7-7 1-1 21; Kyle Grimm 6-7 1-2 13; Joey Lokitis 4-9 1-2 11; Jim
Clifford 4-6 0-0 11; Nick Ciresi 4-6 0-0 10; Brendan Rose 3-7 2-2 8; Steve
Madej 2-7 0-0 6; Nick DiMaggio 1-8 2-2 5; Drew Desmarais 2-3 0-0 4; Sean
Clancy 1-2 0-0 3; Bobby Hughes 0-2 2-2 2; Giacomo Anchisi 0-5 0-0 0; Chris
Bourke 0-1 0-0 0. Totals 34-70 9-11 94.
Skidmore......................   25   29  -   54
Union.........................   55   39  -   94
3-point goals-Skidmore 7-26 (Matthew Belsito 2-6; Jon Douglas 1-5; Jay King
1-1; Rob Moore 1-2; Harry Zwick 1-2; Ivan Paladin 1-1; Brian Perrier 0-2;
Jake Shechtman 0-2; J.Haviland-Markowitz 0-4; Ryan Fischer-Werner 0-1),
Union 17-31 (Joe Mackey 6-6; Jim Clifford 3-4; Joey Lokitis 2-4; Nick Ciresi
2-4; Steve Madej 2-5; Nick DiMaggio 1-5; Sean Clancy 1-1; Giacomo Anchisi
0-2). Fouled out--Skidmore-None, Union-None. Rebounds-Skidmore 30 (Bobby
Langford 7), Union 43 (Kyle Grimm 13). Assists-Skidmore 13 (Ryan
Fischer-Werner 4), Union 23 (Drew Desmarais 4). Total fouls-Skidmore 8,
Union 11. A-234