Hamilton (22-4 overall) won its third league tournament title in the last four years and its fourth overall in the seven-year history of the event. Union (17-10) was the 2005 tournament champion and was playing the Continentals in the finals for the third time. The tournament winner receives an automatic bid to the NCAA Championships tournament. Selections are announced on Sunday, Feb. 26 at 10 p.m.
Welchons went 11-for-18 from the field, including 8-for-11 from three-point range. He scored 38 points in last year's tournament final -- an 88-84 loss to Union.
All five Hamilton starters scored in double figures and a sixth, Harlee Wood '09, chipped in 10 points off the bench. Wood made all four of his field goal attempts. Tsakane Ngobeni '07 added 19 points and six rebounds.
Phil Valenti '06 emerged from a shooting slump as he poured in 17 points, grabbed six rebounds, handed out five assists and made three steals. Valenti has a school-record 81 steals this season and is tenth in NCAA Division III in steals per game.
Nick Jones '07 was in double figures for the eighth straight game with 11 points. Staunton Peck '06 posted 10 points and Zarrette Rogers '07 came off the bench to dish out six assists.
John Cagianello '06 paced the Dutchmen with 24 points. Cagianello went 5-for-10 from long range. Brian Scordato '06 registered 14 points, six rebounds and five assists. Steve Madej '09 popped in a trio of three-pointers and finished with 11 points off the bench. Chris Murphy '06 was credited with six assists.
Union shot well, but the Continentals shredded the nets at a 62 percent (39-63) clip for the game. Hamilton made 19 of 31 three-point attempts (61 percent) and went 10-for-12 at the line. The Dutchmen were a hair under 50 percent (27-56) from the field, and went 13-for-26 from three-point range. The Continentals held a 33-25 advantage in rebounds and turned the ball over just eight times. Union committed 17 turnovers.
The 107 points for Hamilton marks the third time it eclipsed the century mark this season. It's the most points scored by the Continentals in one game since they went for 112 in a win against Notre Dame College on Jan. 5, 2002.
A three by Welchons 3:07 into the contest broke a 3-all tie and put Hamilton in the lead for good. The Continentals led 19-13 with 12:09 remaining in the first half when they went on an 18-3 run to grab a 21-point advantage with 7:59 left. Hamilton cruised into the locker room with a 54-38 lead.
Jim Rahill '07 nailed a three-pointer to pull the Dutchmen within 15 at 63-48 with 16:13 remaining. The Continentals followed with a 13-3 spurt for a 76-51 lead with 12:04 left. Union didn't get closer than 22 points the rest of the way.
Union vs Hamilton College 02/25/06 3 p.m. at Scott Field House; Clinton, N.Y. At Scott Field House; Clinton, N.Y. HAMILTON COLLEGE 107, UNION 72 UNION (17-10) John Cagianello 9-16 1-1 24; Brian Scordato 5-13 0-2 14; Steve Madej 4-8 0-0 11; Jim Rahill 2-3 2-2 7; Drew Desmarais 3-6 0-1 6; Darcy Bonner 2-2 1-1 5; Chris Murphy 1-2 1-2 3; Rob Futia 1-1 0-0 2; Joseph Mackey 0-3 0-0 0; Nick Ciresi 0-1 0-0 0; Kyle Grimm 0-1 0-0 0. Totals 27-56 5-9 72. HAMILTON COLLEGE (22-4) Tim Welchons 11-18 0-0 30; Tsakane Ngobeni 8-11 0-0 19; Phil Valenti 6-9 2-2 17; Nick Jones 4-8 0-0 11; Staunton Peck 2-4 5-6 10; Harlee Wood 4-4 2-2 10; Zarrette Rogers 1-3 0-0 3; Henry Ciocca 1-2 0-0 2; Rich Kohnke 1-1 0-0 2; Jeff Bernardi 1-1 0-0 2; Giorgi Chavleishvili 0-1 0-0 0; Rob Toste 0-1 0-0 0. Totals 39-63 10-12 107. Union......................... 38 34 - 72 Hamilton College.............. 54 53 - 107 3-point goals-Union 13-26 (John Cagianello 5-10; Brian Scordato 4-8; Steve Madej 3-5; Jim Rahill 1-1; Joseph Mackey 0-1; Kyle Grimm 0-1), Hamilton College 19-31 (Tim Welchons 8-11; Nick Jones 3-5; Phil Valenti 3-6; Tsakane Ngobeni 3-3; Staunton Peck 1-2; Zarrette Rogers 1-3; Giorgi Chavleishvili 0-1). Fouled out--Union-None, Hamilton College-None. Rebounds-Union 25 (Brian Scordato 6), Hamilton College 33 (Tsakane Ngobeni 6; Phil Valenti 6). Assists-Union 19 (Chris Murphy 6), Hamilton College 26 (Zarrette Rogers 6). Total fouls-Union 15, Hamilton College 13. A-967