SCHENECTADY, NY -- Senior
Wade McNamara had game highs of 30 points and 17 rebounds on Senior Day as Union College clinched the third seed in the Liberty League Tournament with a 70-64 home win over Hobart College at the Viniar Athletic Center Sunday afternoon.
The Dutchmen finished the regular season with a 10-6 league record, tied with Hobart, but swept the season series. Union is 14-10 overall and plays #2 seed St. Lawrence Wednesday, February 22 at 7:00 PM in Canton. The Statesmen, now 15-10 after the regular season, play at top seed Skidmore Wednesday at 8:00 PM. The championship game is Saturday at the highest remaining seed with a time to be determined.
McNamara tied his career high in rebounds and had 14 on the defensive side. He made 11 of 20 shots and added two assists and a steal. He was honored prior to the game with fellow seniors
Zachary Bouton,
Deshon Burgess and
Shiraz Mumtaz. Burgess had 12 points and Bouton added nine for the Dutchmen, who shot 40% and had a 37-34 rebounding advantage.
Four players were in double figures for Hobart, including Colin Dougerty and Jamal Lucas, who scored 19 each. Tucker Lescoe and Matt Walsh added 10 each while Lucas had a team high eight rebounds and Dougherty added seven boards. The Statesmen shot 41% for the contest.
Hobart had an eight point lead at 25-17 with 6:38 left in the first after a free throw by Dougherty. But seven points by McNamara keyed a 10-2 run over the next 3:36 and Union toook the lead on the final points of the half with a Bouton layup to make it 29-27 Dutchmen. Half of McNamara's game point total came in the first half of play.
Union got up by nine at 36-27 with a 7-0 run in the first 2:17 of the second half. But Hobart came back and got it within one at 41-40 after two Lucas free throws capped a 11-3 run in a span of 4:22. Union was up by seven after a McNamara three made it 54-47 with 8:55 to play, but it was a two point game with four minutes left made it 57-55 Union. The Dutchmen quickly got it up to an eight point lead at 65-57 with 1:44 to play, but Dougherty's two shots at the charity stripe got Hobart within three at 42 seconds. Union made three of four free throws to seal the victory.
In the previous meeting this seasons, St. Lawrence defeated Union, 75-63 in Schenectady on December 30 and the Saints also won at home, 90-85 on January 28 in Canton.
