SCHENECTADY, NY -- Drew Desmarais pumped in a game and career high 26 points and pulled down nine rebounds, but St. Lawrence got 24 from Garrett Sharlow (Massena, NY) and 23 from Terry Parham (Petersburg, VA) in an 80-77 win over the Dutchmen at the Viniar Athletic Center Saturday afternoon. Union had a six game winning streak snapped, falling to 9-4 overall and 2-1 in the Liberty League, while the Saints improved to 9-3 and 2-0 in the league.

Richard Williams (Kingston, NY) had a game best 11 rebounds and Tom Wopperer (Manlius, NY) added 12 points for St. Lawrence. Desmarais averaged 22 points in three league games this week, and made 12 of 18 shots in this game along wtih three blocks. Matt Covucci scored 12 points with eight rebounds and four blocks, and joined Steve Madej with five assists each, and Madej had 11 points. 

Tom Wopperer (Manlius, NY) scored 12 points for the Saints, who had a 37-34 rebounding mark over the Dutchmen and shot 44%. Union shot 51% in the game, including 59% in the first half when the Dutchmen went to the locker room with a 41-37 lead.

Union got it up to an eight point advantage at 48-40 with 17:52 left in the second, and later led 61-52 with 10:16 left, the largest lead of the second half. With the Saints trailing by seven, 69-62 with 5:05 left, Parham and Williams hit back-to-back threes to pull to within one, and a Parham layup with 3:30 gave the Saints a 70-69 lead, their first lead of the game. The Saints led 77-73 with 30 seconds left after two free throws by Garrett Sharlow. Desmarais made a layup to make it 77-75 with 18 seconds left, and after a Union foul, Sharlow hit the first free throw but missed the second. Desmarais made it a one point game again at 78-77 but Parham iced it with a layup with two seconds left for the 80-77 score. Union took a full court shot at the end that came up short in the effort to tie.

The Dutchmen play at Hamilton on January 23 and at William Smith on January 24.

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