Box ScoreAndrew Newton, Tucker Kain and Jaris Cole combined for score 67 points and pull down 27 points to lead nationally-ranked Williams to a 76-68 victory over Union.
The victory improved the Ephs record to 8-0 while the Dutchmen fell to 2-2.
Newton scored 26 points and grabbed a team-high 14 boards for the Ephs, who finished second in the nation last year after winning the Division III national title in 2002-03. Kaine contributed 25 points while Cole added 16 points and six assists.
Union, which trailed by as many as 10 points in the first half, 19-9 with 13:06 on the clock, took a 25-23 lead with 7:41 remaining as T.J. Ramey hit a three-point basket. Williams held a 36-31 advantage with 2:28 left in the half before Union scored the period's final seven points to take a 38-36 lead into the break. Brian Scordato started the run with a jumper with 2:02 remaining bore John Cagianello knocked down a three-pointer to tie the score at 36 with 1:22 left. Scordato's jumper off Cagianello's feed with six ticks left gave Union the edge.
Newton's layup to open the second 20 minutes tied the score and the Ephs never trailed after that. The Dutchmen did tie the game at 61-61 with 4:08 showing as Scordato turned a feed from Darcy Bonner into a layup and then connected on his free throw. However, the Ephs then went on a 12-4 run with a pair of free throws by Cole giving the visitors a 10-point margin, 73-63, with 1:56 left.
Scordato finished with 15 points for the Dutchmen while junior point guard Chris Murphy and Ramey each contributed 11 markers. Senior forward Devon Bruce netted 10 points and pulled down a team-high nine rebounds.
Cagianello, who was held to seven points, now needs just 30 markers to become the 14th member of the Dutchmen's 1,000-point club.
