SCHENECTADY, N.Y. – Senior guard Phil Valenti (Pittsford, NY/Pittsford Sutherland) scored 13 points with four assists and three other players hit for double figures to lead Hamilton to a 68-65 Liberty League men's basketball victory over Union at the Viniar Athletic Center Friday night. The Continentals improved to 11-2 overall and 3-1 in the Liberty League, while the Dutchmen fell to 9-6 and 2-2 in the league.

Tsakane Ngobeni (Soweto, S. Africa/St. Anne's-Belfield School, VA) added 11 points, six assists and a game-high six rebounds for Hamilton, while Nick Jones (Washington, DC/St. John's College High) poured in 12 points for the visitors. Hamilton shot 45%, including a 52% clip (13-25) in the second half, and committed just seven turnovers. The Continentals also had a 34-23 rebounding advantage.

Union was led by backcourt mates John Cagianello (Wethersfield, CT/Loomis Chaffee) and Chris Murphy (Hastings-on-Hudson, NY/Iona Prep), who each scored 15 points. Murphy also had five assists and made six of eight shots from the floor. Brian Scordato (Mt. Kisco, NY/Horace Greeley) added 12 points for Union, which shot 56% for the game.

Hamilton led 34-29 at halftime, and a Valenti three-pointer gave the Continentals a nine-point lead at 40-31 two minutes into the second half. Union tied it at 57-57 with 6:25 left on five straight points by Cagianello in a span of 30 seconds. But the Dutchmen never took the lead in the game. Welchons hit a three-pointer with five seconds left for a 67-62 Hamilton lead, and after a three-pointer by Murphy with under four seconds left made it a one-point game, Valenti was fouled and made a free throw with one second remaining that iced the victory.