The Hamilton College Continentals earned a notable 77-64 NESCAC win over the Tufts University Jumbos at Hamilton's Margaret Bundy Scott Field House on Friday night.
Hamilton evened their overall record at 7-7 and improved to 1-2 in the conference. The Continentals shot 50.9 percent from the floor and went 18-for-24 (75 percent) at the free-throw line. Hamilton earned a season-high 46 points in the paint.
Tufts (4-8, 0-1) received votes in this week's D3hoops.com Top 25 poll. The Jumbos shot 35.2 percent from the field and never led.
Conner Rood '23 led Hamilton with 18 points and 10 boards for his second career double-double. Rood went 8-for-10 at the charity stripe.
Patrick Mogan '23 tied season highs with 16 points and three blocks. The Continentals were also powered by
Liam Regan '23 and his career-best 13 points as he was 3 of 6 from behind the arc.
Elliot Tirbaso '22 and
Nick Osarenren '22 recorded 11 points apiece. Osarenren led the Continentals' defense with a career-high six blocks, grabbed 10 rebounds and handed out four assists.
The Jumbos' Luke Rogers secured his 1,000
th career point and finished with 22. Dylan Thoerner put up 12 points and Casey McLaren added 11.
Hamilton opened the contest with a 14-4 run and held a 38-24 advantage at the break. The Jumbos, who were down by as many as 19 late in the first half, clawed back to within two points at 60-58 with 4:38 left in the second half. The Continentals went 8-for-11 at the line the rest of the way and went back up by double digits with 1:01 remaining.
Hamilton will host Bates College for another NESCAC game on Saturday, Jan. 15 at 3 p.m.
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