The Hamilton College men’s basketball team finished NESCAC play this past weekend, completing one of the most successful seasons in program history. The Continentals (23–4) fell in the NESCAC Championship game to Ameherst in an intense battle at Margaret Bundy Scott Field House on Sunday, Feb. 24. Though the outcome is not what players and fans were hoping for, there are many positives to look back on as they prepare for the first round of the NCAA Division III tournament this weekend.
The Continentals finished the regular season 7–3 in the NESCAC, tied for first place in the conference. A week after the regular season concluded, #2-seeded Hamilton hosted #7-seeded Colby and convincingly avenged one of their lone regular season losses in a high scoring 93–88 win. The following week, Hamilton faced #8-seeded Tufts. Due to the Jumbos victory against #1 seeded Middlebury the week before, Hamilton hosted the NESCAC semifinals and finals as the highest-seeded remaining team — a first in program history.
After defeating Tufts at home, Hamilton awaited the winner of Williams vs. Amherst. Amherst prevailed over their Western Massachusetts rivals and earned a rematch with the Continentals, who had recently handed them a loss on their home floor.
On Sunday, Feb. 24, Hamilton and Amherst squared off for the NESCAC Championship. Senior captain Peter Hoffmann was the highest scorer for Hamilton with 15 points, trailed closely by guard Kena Gilmour ’20 with 13. Michael Grassey ’19 chipped in 10 points of his own, but the contributions from the three were not enough to compensate for a subpar shooting performance by the Continentals. Hamilton posted a 31.7 percent field goal percentage as a team. Despite being unable to get loose offensively, Hamilton forced Amherst into 17 turnovers and a 36.9 percent field goal percentage.
A number of standout performances brought Hamilton to the brink of their first NESCAC title in program history. According to NESCAC league rankings, Gilmour and Hoffmann ranked in the top 25 in the league for scoring. Gilmour’s 19.1 points per game (PPG) stand second in the league while Hoffmann’s mark of 12.6 PPG — on 50% from the field — is good enough for 23rd in the NESCAC. Mark Lutz ’20 paced the NESCAC in 3-point shooting percentage with an otherworldly 48.3 percent conversion rate on triples.
Joining Lutz in the top twenty is Grassey, who shot 37.3 percent from three on the season. Andrew Groll ’19 ranked eighth in the NESCAC with a 52.9 percent field goal percentage, and both Gilmour and Tim Doyle ’19 ranked in the top 20 NESCAC-wide in free throw percentage with Gilmour at 87.2 percent (2nd) and Doyle at 76.9 percent (15th.) Doyle also finished sixth in the NESCAC with 1.3 steals per game.
Though Hamilton did not prevail, their season is not over. The squad will host Penn State Behrend (23–4) this weekend in the first round of the NCAA tournament. This is their second appearance in the tournament in as many years. It is also Hamilton’s first time hosting an NCAA Championship match since 2006.
Hamilton will also host the second round of playoffs at home, having been selected from 64 teams to be one of 16 early-round hosts. Per NCAA. com, Penn State Behrend allows only 60.2 PPG, good for third best in the country. As the student body knows, Hamilton should feel confident about their matchup as they sport one of the most potent offenses in the toughest league in the country.
Fans looking to support Hamilton men’s basketball can purchase tickets this Friday, March 1 from 9:00 AM to 3:00 PM at the Alumni Gym Athletics Office and after 4:30 PM at the Field House entrance. Tickets are free for Hamilton students and employees and $10 for adults.
The Margaret Bundy Scott Field House will also be the host to visiting Keene State College and Moravian College, who will play one another in the first round. These two teams will start the action on Friday, March 1 at 5:30 PM. Hamilton will play Penn State at approximately 7:30 PM.
The winner of Hamilton’s match and the winner of the Keene State-Moravian match will play one another Saturday, March 2 at approximately 7:00 PM, also in the Field House. The winner of this game will travel for the next round. Tickets for that second round game will be available at the Field House entrance starting an hour before the game.
