BROCKPORT - C.J. Rodgers (Chicago, IL/St. Rita) hit two free throws with :10.7 left to break a 71-71 tie and lead Union to a 73-71 win over Potsdam and into the championship game of the 2000 ECAC Upstate New York Men's Basketball Tournament. The Dutchmen face fourth-seeded Ithaca at 2 p.m. at Brockport's Tuttle North Gym in Sunday's final.
Union led 41-33 at halftime, but the Bears chipped away at the Dutchmen's advantage and tied the game at 64-64 with 3:54 left on a layup by Watson Curry (Bronx/Cardinal Spellman). Zena Woldeyesus's (Englwood, NJ/St. Joseph's) three-pointer with 3:31 left put Union back up by three points, but Curry hit back-to-back hoops to give Potsdam its only lead of the half, 68-67, with 2:41 remaining.
After Woldeyesus and Dave Copeland (Clifton Park/Shenendehowa) hit buckets to put Union up by three points, Potsdam's Rex Ratliff tied the game (71-71) with a three-pointer with 1:21 remaining. Rodgers hit his game-winning free throws after being fouled by Curry on a break-away layup attempt.
Woldeyesus had a game-high 18 points for Union. Rodgers and Aaron Galletta (Hyde Park/Roosevelt) chipped in with 15 points each.
Curry topped Potsdam with 17 points, two more than teammate Jon Guida (Brewster/Trinity Pawling).
Ithaca topped host Brockport, 85-79, in the other semifinal.