CANTON, N.Y. -- St. Lawrence built a 12-point lead with 5:09 left to play then held off a John Cagianello-led charge to defeat Union, 66-61, in an Upstate Collegiate Athletic Association showdown.

The loss, the second-straight for the Dutchmen, dropped Union"s overall record to 16-6. More importantly, the Dutchmen are now 6-5 in the UCAA and tied with the Saints for the fourth and final playoff position for the conference"s championship tournament. The event will be held February 27 and 28 at the site of the regular-season winner with the tournament champion earning the UCAA"s automatic NCAA berth. St. Lawrence would more than likely win the tie-breaker against the Dutchmen as the Saints have beaten league-leading Clarkson twice. Union and SLU split the two meetings with the Dutchmen taking a 62-57 victory at Memorial Field House.

Trailing by their biggest deficit of the game, 59-47, with 6:09 remaining, Cagianello was the key player for the Dutchmen as they went on a 12-4 run to pull to within 61-59 with 2:07 left to play. After Chris Murray"s field goal got Union to within 10 with five minutes left, 61-51, Cagianello scored the game"s next eight points to bright the Dutchmen to within two, 61-59, with 2:07 on the clock. The sophomore guard from Wethersfield, Connecticut, hit a three-point basket with 4:08 left, connected on three of four free throw attempts and scored on a layup.

Aaron Marshall, who led the Saints with 18 points and nine rebounds, hit a layup to give the hosts a four-point margin, 63-59, with 1:41 showing before Cagianello connected on two more free throws to bring the Dutchmen to within 63-61 at 1:28.

St. Lawrence, now 14-7 overall, increased its margin to 64-61 as Jimmy White hit one of two charity shots with 59 seconds left. After Union turned the ball over with 42 seconds remaining, the Saints missed a field goal with six seconds left only to have freshman 5"8 guard Matt Blue come up with the rebound. Blue, who was immediately fouled, hit both of his free throws to ice the victory.

Blue, who was four-of-six from three-point range, finished with 14 points.

Cagianello, who finished with 21 markers, was the only Dutchman in double digits. Brian Scordato picked up seven of the Garnet"s 29 rebounds while Imbrie Packard had six. St. Lawrence, which came up with 40 rebounds, held a 14-6 advantage on the offensive boards.