MONTCLAIR, N.J. – Western New England University scored 10 straight points late in the first half and led the rest of the way in the Golden Bears' 83-73 win over the Hamilton College Continentals in a 2025 NCAA Division III Men's Basketball Championship first round contest at Montclair State University's Panzer Athletic Center on Friday afternoon, March 7. 
 

How It Happened

• The Golden Bears' run gave them an 11-point lead at 36-25 with just 48 seconds remaining in the first half.
• Owen Kane '25 sank two free throws, trimming Hamilton's deficit to nine points as the first half came to a close.
• A jumper in the paint by Garret Keyhani '26, followed by a tip-in by Kane after a missed layup, cut the Golden Bears' lead to seven points at 38-31 with 18:46 remaining in the second half.
• Keyhani knocked down a three-pointer that pulled Hamilton within six, and the Continentals closed the gap to five after Hank Morgan '25 stole the ball and dunked. A free throw by Teja Singh '25 made it 45-39 with 14:26 left.
• The Golden Bears led by eight at 53-45 with 10:47 to go when the Continentals countered with their largest run of seven straight points. Matthew Rideout '27 sparked the run with a contested pull-up jumper, Jalen Reese '27 converted a layup and Singh capped the rally with a 3-ball from the left wing that sliced the margin to just one point at 53-52 with 9:04 left.
• Western New England converted two free throws, but Morgan answered with two of his own on Hamilton's next possession and narrowed the gap to 55-54 with 8:07 remaining.
• The Golden Bears recorded back-to-back three-point plays and extended their lead to five at 61-56 with 7:10 left.
• A layup by Rideout drew the Continentals within one possession for the last time at 61-58 with 6:16 remaining.
• Hamilton was still just four back at 68-64 after a Rideout jumper with 3:06 to go.
• Western New England went on a 12-2 spurt during the next two minutes and stretched its lead to a game-high 14 points at 80-66.
• Keyhani knocked down two consecutive three-pointers and Reese added a jumper for a 10-5 Hamilton lead with 15:33 left in the first half.
• The Golden Bears narrowed their gap to one point at 14-13 with 12:12 remaining. Hamilton and Western New England went scoreless for the next 2:26.
• The first half featured five ties and six lead changes. 

Notes

• Hamilton finished its season with an overall record of 20-7. This was the Continentals' 13th trip to the NCAA championship and the 30th anniversary of Hamilton's first appearance. 
• Western New England (22-6 overall) won its sixth straight contest and 10th in its last 11. The Golden Bears earned an automatic bid by winning the Conference of New England championship title. This is their first NCAA appearance in 25 years and first NCAA win. 
• Keyhani shot a perfect 7-of-7 from the field, including three from long range, and led Hamilton with a season-high 20 points.
• Morgan finished with 18 points and three assists. He ended his career in ninth place on the team's all-time list with 1,585 career points. 
• Singh chipped in 12 points and had 1,187 for his career. He wound up fifth on the team's all-time list with 173 career three-point field goals made. 
• Rideout added 10 points off the bench before he fouled out. 
• Reese contributed eight points and a team-high seven rebounds and three steals. 
• The Golden Bears' Brian Geitner and Tim Restall scored 17 points apiece. 
• Cody Palazzesi had 14 points and made a game-best four steals. 
• Jake Harrison scored 13 points and grabbed eight rebounds and handed out seven assists. 
• Hamilton shot 36 percent (9-25) from the floor, including 2-of-12 from beyond the arc, in the first half. 
• Western New England shot 56 percent (14-25) from the field in the second half, despite going 0-of-6 from three-point range.
• The Golden Bears made more free throws (29) than the Continentals attempted (24).
• Eleven steals by Western New England helped lead to 31 points off 20 Hamilton turnovers. 
• The Continentals owned a 32-31 edge on the glass.