SCHENECTADY , NY - Union connected on 16 of 31 first-half two-point field goals to take a 38-23 lead into the half and coasted to its eighth consecutive victory by defeating Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts, 80-58 in the first round of the 20 th Annual Sig Makofski/Union Invitational Basketball Tournament.

The 8-1 Dutchmen, who have not lost since dropping a seven-point decision in the season opener at Williams, the defending national champions, put their streak on the line this afternoon at 3 p.m. when they take on Clark University in Memorial Field House. The Cougars gave head coach Paul Phillips his 299 th career victory by defeating SUNY Brockport, 74-69 in the tournament opener.

The Dutchmen will be looking for their first back-to-back tournament titles and their sixth overall championship. Union 's game against Clark is the first time the two teams have played since the Dutchmen captured a 81-84 victory over the Cougars in the 1999 Makofski championship.

Union had 10 players break into the scoring column in the first half as it enjoyed a 15-point lead at the end of the first 20 minutes. The Dutchmen opened the game with a 14-4 run over the first 7:14 with sophomore guard John Cagianello's layup providing the 10-point margin. The 1-8 Trailblazers came back to within six, 14-8 on a layup by Bob Mitchell before Union cruised to a 17-point advantage, 36-19, on Darcy Bonner's shot from underneath with 3:30 left in the half.

Cagianello finished with 13 points for Union while Ryan Freundlich, Joe Mackey and Bonner each scoring 10 markers. Union , which enjoyed a 50-33 rebounding advantage, was led by Bonner, Freundlich and Devon Bruce, who each had six boards.

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