Hamilton College's Conner Rood '23 poured in a career-high 23 points and grabbed 11 rebounds as the Continentals posted an 87-71 non-conference win against the Alfred State College Pioneers at Hamilton's Margaret Bundy Scott Field House on Wednesday night.
 
Season Update
The Continentals improved their overall record to 5-2 while Alfred State, which is a member of the Allegheny Mountain Collegiate Conference, dropped to 3-5.
 
How It Happened

• There were seven lead changes and four ties in the first half.
• Neither team led by more than three points until there were nine minutes to go before halftime.
• The score was tied at 22-22 when the Pioneers went on an 8-2 run and took their largest lead of six points at 30-24 with 5:30 left.
• Hamilton scored the next 17 points and led the rest of the way. Teja Singh '25 and Hank Morgan '25 drained 3-pointers on consecutive possessions and Morgan later canned another for a 33-30 edge with 3:30 remaining. Owen Kane '25, Rood and Morgan added layups, and Rood collected a defensive rebound and hit a jumper at the other end for a 41-30 advantage with a little over a minute left.
• The Continentals led 41-34 at the break, but Alfred State closed to within three points on two occasions, including 45-42 with 18 minutes remaining.
• Hamilton took control with a 12-2 spurt that covered the next five minutes. Eric Anderson '23 started the run with a 3-pointer and, after a basket by the Pioneers, Morgan made a jumper in the paint. Rood stole the ball and converted an old-fashioned 3-point play, and Singh made the first of two free throws. A trifecta by Rood made it 57-44 and the Continentals had their largest lead up to that point.
• Hamilton led by double digits for most of the last 13 minutes as Alfred State didn't get closer than seven points during that stretch.
• Cooper Xu '25 swished a 3-pointer from the left wing, was fouled and made the free throw for the Continentals' biggest lead of 19 points at 87-68 in the final 30 seconds.

 
Notes

• Rood recorded his second career double-double and added four assists and three steals.
• Morgan scored 13 of his 15 points in the first half.
• Anderson chipped in 13 points and four assists.
• Singh contributed a dozen points.
• Kane scored 10 points on 5 of 5 shooting and blocked two shots in 17 minutes off the bench.
• Hamilton racked up 17 offensive rebounds and held a 24-6 advantage in second-chance points.
• Cody Schneider paced the Pioneers with 20 points and eight boards before he fouled out. He scored 15 in the first half.
• Paris Jamison made three 3-pointers and finished with 19 points.
• Stone Siverling registered a dozen points in a reserve role.
• Alfred State was 8 of 20 from 3-point range.

 
Next Game
The Continentals host sixth-ranked Worcester Polytechnic Institute (5-0 overall) on Saturday, Dec. 3 at 2 p.m.