SCHENECTADY, N.Y.Sophomore guard John Cagianello scored a game-high 23 points and junior forward Devon Bruce (Guilderland) chipped in with 19 points and a team-high nine rebounds as Union held off Hobart, 79-72, in a key Upstate Collegiate Athletic Association men's basketball contest at Memorial Field House.

Not only does the win improve Union's league record to 6-3, it keeps them in the hunt for one of the four conference postseason tournament spots. The event will be held the weekend of February 27 and 28 at the site of the regular-season champions with the winner earning the UCAA's automatic berth in the NCAA tournament. Union, which is assured of its sixth consecutive winning season, is 16-4 overall.

Up by 11 with 1:36 to play, 69-58, Hobart used the long ball to pull to within six, 75-69 on Mike Mannings' steal and three-point basket with 21 seconds showing. Sophomore point guard Chris Murphy connected on both of his free throw attempts to give the Dutchmen a 77-69 advantage with 19 seconds left before Bill Clarke's three-point bomb pulled the Statesmen back to within five, 77-72 with 10 seconds remaining. Murphy again connected on a pair of free throw attempts with seven seconds left and Hobart's final three-point field goal missed giving the Dutchmen their seven-point victory.

Union led throughout the first half as Cagianello who scored 16 of the Dutchmen's first 22 points, finished the opening half with 18 markers. The Statesmen got to within one, 14-13 with 14:07 showing, before Cagianello scored the game's next eight points to give the Dutchmen a 22-13 lead with 10:04 showing. Cagianello, who connected on seven of his 12 first-half field goals (including four-of-seven from three-point range) provided the Garnet with its largest lead of the opening half, 38-23, as he converted a jump shot with 2:59 showing. Union, which saw two of its big men, Imbrie Packard and Ryan Frendulich pick up three and two fouls, respectively, had its bench outscore Hobart 14-1 in the first 20 minutes.

While the Statesmen, who fell to 3-5 in the conference and 7-11 overall, were able to hold Cagianello in check during the second half, Bruce picked up the slack for the Dutchmen as he scored 15 points and pulled down six rebounds with three steals and two blocked shots in the final 20 minutes.

Hobart was led by Mike Manning, who had 21 points, Joe Flacke (Schenectady), who contributed 20 and Tim Apuzzo, who scored 14 points and added a game-high 20 rebounds.

The Dutchmen will host Hamilton College Saturday at 4 p.m . in their final home regular-season game. Continental head coach Tom Murphy will be honored during pre-game ceremonies. Murphy is retiring after 34 years on the bench, compiling a career record of 595-260.