SCHENECTADY, N.Y. - Even though the Bard College men's basketball team beat Union twice last season in Liberty League play, and even though Bard was up nine at halftime on Sunday, you just had a feeling it was going to be another nail-biter. Lately, they just are.

After seeing the halftime lead evaporate, and after allowing Union to rally from 10 points down in the final few minutes, the Raptors pulled it out late, 57-52, to improve to 2-0 in conference play. It's the first time Bard has swept both games of a Liberty League weekend, home or away.

Bard (5-6, 2-0 LL) has beaten Union three straight times by a combined nine points. Sunday's game was a thriller down the stretch, just like both games last year.

The Raptors limited high-scoring Union, which was averaging 76 points per game, to 21 first-half points on 22 percent shooting from the field. It was 30-21 at the break.

But Union (3-6, 1-1 LL) opened the second half on a 10-2 run. From there, the game was tied at 34-34, 36-36, 40-40, and 42-42 with 7:37 left.

Bard seemingly put the game away with a 10-0 run that broke the tie. A layup from Brandon Cunningham, two free throws from Armando Dunn, another layup from Cunningham, a layup from DeVahnte Mosley and a drive and layup from Harry Johnson, and it was 52-42 with 3:55 on the clock.

But the Dutchmen came all the way back, responding with a 10-0 run of their own, culminated by a three-pointer from Wade McNamara (East Lyme, CT), and it was 52-52 with 74 seconds left in the game.

On Bard's next possession, Emmanuel Rainey missed a three-pointer, but Johnson grabbed the long rebound, drove into the lane, and was fouled. He calmly sank both to give Bard a 54-52 lead with 48 seconds left.

At the other end, Union's Deshon Burgess (Scottdale, GA) was harrassed into taking a tough jumper, and Mosley snared the rebound. He was fouled and sank both to make it 56-52 with 28 seconds left.

A three-point attempt by Zachary Bouton (Cornwall-on-Hudson, NY) missed and Dunn grabbed that rebound and was fouled. He made 1-of-2 with 15 seconds left, and the game was over. Union hoisted up a couple of desperation threes late, but they missed.

Burgess finished with a game-high 22 points for Union, which never led. Nobody else finished in double figures.

Mosley led Bard with 14 points, seven rebounds and three assists. Rainey finished with 12 points, while Dunn added 11 points and seven rebounds off the bench. Cunningham had some clutch buckets and rebounds, finishing with eight points, nine rebounds and three blocks.

The Raptors will resume the grind of Liberty League road games on consecutive days later this week, at Clarkson and St. Lawrence on Friday and Saturday, respectively.