February 25 , 2005

GENEVA, N.Y.—Union College scored with 1.9 seconds remaining in regulation to upset Hobart College, 77-74, in the Liberty League Men’s Basketball Tournament semifinals. Junior guard Chris Murphy (Iona Prep/Hastings-on-Hudson, N.Y.) hit the game-winner and added two free throws with just 0.4 seconds remaining to propel the Dutchmen into the final.

Hobart sophomore Mike Manning (Center Moriches/Mastic, N.Y.) gave the Statesmen (15-10) their final lead of the night on a driving layup inside 10 seconds, to set the stage for Murphy’s dramatic finish. Manning recorded 18 points on the night.

Murphy scored 19 points on 7-of-8 shooting, including 3-of-3 from long range, and 2-of-2 from the free-throw line. Junior guard John Cangianello (Loomis Chaffee/Wethersfield, Conn.) also netted 19 for Union.

Junior guard Colby Feane (Weedsport/Weedsport, N.Y.) paced the Statesmen with 19 points, five rebounds, and five assists.

Union (15-11) got off to a hot start, draining three-pointers seemingly at will. The Dutchmen led by as many as 12 in the first half, connecting on 9-of-16 from beyond the arc, en route to a 42-35 halftime lead. Union junior Brian Scordato (Horace Greeley/Mt. Kisco, N.Y.) was the high-scorer at the break with 12 of his 16 points.

Senior forward Joe Flacke (Schenectady/Schenectady, N.Y.) and junior guard Joe Virgilio (Wheatley/East Williston, N.Y.) both contributed 13 points for Hobart. Statesmen sophomore Mike Mastro (Jericho/Westbury, N.Y.) was the game’s high rebounder, collecting 14 caroms to go with nine points, six assists, six steals, and two blocked shots.

The Dutchmen will square off with Hamilton—a 76-75 winner over No. 2 Skidmore—at 4 p.m., on Feb. 26, in Bristol Gym for the Liberty League Championship and the accompanying NCAA Division III Tournament bid.

The Thoroughbreds (15-9) trailed through most of the second half, but trailed by just three with 27 seconds remaining. Skidmore missed a pair of three-pointers that would have tied the game, and following a made Hamilton free throw, the Thoroughbreds had to settle for a buzzer-beating three that left the higher seed a single point shy of overtime.

Junior guard Tim Welchons (New Hartford/New Hartford, N.Y.) paced Hamilton (15-10) with 26 points, including 11-of-11 at the charity stripe. Liberty League Player of the Year Dana Martin (Stowe/Stowe, Vt.) led Skidmore with 25 points.