The Hamilton College Continentals took down the Stevens Institute of Technology Ducks in overtime, 70-64, in non-conference action at Stevens' Canavan Arena on Friday afternoon.
 
Hamilton improved to 11-8 overall with its fifth win in the Continentals' last six games. Hamilton follows up the victory with a trip to Middletown, Conn., where the Continentals will face nationally ranked No. 20 Wesleyan University for a NESCAC game on Sunday, Jan. 30 at 2 p.m.
 
Hamilton opened the extra period with a 10-3 run after the teams were tied at 53-53 at the end of regulation. Liam Regan '23 shined in overtime for the Continentals as he drained two clutch triples, one of which was a deep dagger that put Hamilton up 66-58 with 1:22 remaining. Regan scored a career-high 17 points and was 4 of 9 from downtown. He has scored in double figures in three straight games. Conner Rood '23 handed out a game-high seven assists.
 
Nick Osarenren '22 put the nail in the coffin for the Continentals coming out of a timeout with a layup-and-one that put Hamilton up 70-64 with just 15 seconds left. The NESCAC defensive player of the year candidate was a force to be reckoned with, stuffing the stat sheet with 10 points, 15 rebounds, four assists, three steals, and three blocked shots in 37 minutes off the bench. The rebound total tied a career high.
 
Both teams fought tooth and nail, and it took everything the Continentals had to defeat the ferocious and resilient Stevens squad. The Ducks, who are members of the Middle Atlantic Conference Freedom, dropped to 8-7 overall.
 
Each team started off cold from the field, as they both endured respective scoring droughts en route to a 9-9 tie with 8:30 to go in the first half. The slow start was indicative of the grueling defensive battle to come, as neither Hamilton nor Stevens eclipsed 35 percent from the field while compiling 16 and 15 turnovers, respectively. Nevertheless, the back-and-forth out-of-conference duel was supremely entertaining, featuring eight ties and 12 lead changes.
 
Hamilton and Stevens remained neck-and-neck as the half moved along. Ducks forward Jack Spellman scored a tough and-one bucket that put Stevens up 17-16 with 2:40 remaining. Hamilton dominated the rest of the half, as it scored five straight points and finished the half with a 21-17 lead.
 
The Continentals' final offensive possession was arguably their best of the half, as the team's strong ball movement led to a 3-pointer by Elliott Tirbaso '22 from the left corner. Tirbaso scored a team-high eight points in the half and finished with 13 on 3 of 8 shooting from 3-point range.
 
Continentals forward Patrick Mogan '23 started the second half by draining a couple mid-range jump shots, and he didn't slow down from there. Mogan bullied the Ducks for 16 points and a career-best 13 rebounds, six of which were offensive, while turning away a career-high five shots on the defensive end. He has two double-doubles in his last four games.
 
It appeared Hamilton would coast to a victory after taking a 47-38 lead with 6:00 remaining in the contest, but Stevens did not go down quietly. The Ducks stormed back via a 15-3 run that put them up 53-50 with 1:55 remaining. The run was capped by a clutch 3-pointer from Matt LaCorte, who finished with 15 points. Spellman (15 points), Alec DiPietrantonio (14 points), and Matt Crowley (12 points) all had timely scores during the Ducks' comeback surge.
 
Akin to the first half's conclusion, the Continentals once again deployed strong situational execution at the end of regulation. This time, however, it came on the defensive end after a timeout with 18 seconds left. Stevens was thwarted by a swarming Hamilton defense that deflected passes and heavily contested the game-winning look. The Continentals eventually forced an air ball that sent the game to overtime.