SCHENECTADY, N.Y.—In the first round of the Liberty League Men's Basketball Tournament, fourth-seeded Union rallied to force overtime and then Matthew Garside hit a game-winning 3-pointer with 0.8 seconds left in OT to give the Garnet Chargers an 83-80 win over fifth-seeded Hobart.
 
All five Statesmen starters hit double digits. Senior Pat Healy led the way with 16 points on 7-of-16 shooting with a pair of 3-pointers. Senior Hunter Meshanic also drained a pair of threes and finished with 15 points. Sophomore Alex Moesch hit two triples and posted 14 points. Senior Carter Meshanic had a double-double on 12 points and a team-high 14 rebounds. Senior Aidan Rodgers added 12 points and a team-high five assists.
 
Garside led all scorers with 29 points, including six 3-pointers. Tanner Tedesco added 17 points and five assists, while Jack Plesser chipped in 15 points and eight rebounds. Brendan Reid grabbed a game-high 16 rebounds.
 
HOW IT HAPPENED

• Hobart led by as many as 14 points in the first half thanks to a 21-5 run that gave the Statesmen a 25-11 lead with under nine minutes left.
• Union got within two on a 3-pointer by Tedesco in the final minute of the half, but Hunter Meshanic answered with a 3-pointer at the other end of the floor, giving Hobart a 35-30 halftime lead.
• In the second half, neither team led by more than five points.
• The Statesmen took a 72-68 lead on a step-back jumper by Moesch with 2:21 remaining in regulation.
• Garside and Tedesco made the final two baskets to send the game into overtime.
• In overtime, neither team led by more than a single possession. Rodgers tied the game at 80 with about 10 seconds left, but Garside sent the home team into the tournament semifinals with his last second shot.

 
KEY STATS

• Hobart shot slightly better overall, 45.7% to 43.5%, but Union made 13 3-pointers to the Statesmen's seven.
• Nearly every other stat in the game was even or virtually even.
• There were 18 lead changes and eight ties in the game.

COACH'S CORNER

"It was a heartbreaking loss to end our season. Our team competed for 45 minutes to give us a chance to win. Credit to Union for battling and making a big shot. I feel for our team and especially our seniors with everything they've given our program. I couldn't ask for four better young men to coach and grow our program."

Hobart finished the season with a 16-10 record. The four Statesmen seniors finished their careers with a record of 67-40 (.626) that includes three Liberty League Tournament appearances, the 2024 Liberty League Championship and an NCAA tournament appearance.