PHOTO BY JOSH MCKEE
The #8 nationally-ranked Continentals will host a NESCAC playoff game for the first time since they joined the NESCAC for basketball in 2011–12. Following NESCAC #8 seed Tufts University’s upset of #1 seed Middlebury College on Saturday, Feb. 16, the team will host the playoff semifinal. The final will also be played on Hamilton’s court, but the matchup is to-be-determined.
Despite being ranked #8 nationally and likely securing an NCAA tournament bid regardless of the outcome of the NESCAC tournament, the Continentals are not settling — they want it all. Hamilton’s first test will be the #8 seeded Tufts University, who are coming off the aforementioned upset of Middlebury.
The Continentals’ success this past weekend was preceded by a successful road trip the week before. Hamilton beat Williams College by a score of 77–70 on the road on Saturday, Feb. 9 and Amherst College by a score of 81–77 on Wednesday, Feb. 13.
On Saturday, Feb. 16, the Continentals were victorious in a fierce battle with the NESCAC #7 seed Colby College Mules, who seemed to make every three-point shot they took. Colby made 12 three-pointers, five of which came from sophomore Matt Hanna. Colby also had a 36–28 rebound advantage over Hamilton. With only 44 seconds left, the score was 90–88 in favor of the Continentals; a series of fouls and free throws led Hamilton to a win. Hamilton shot 60 percent from the field in the second half and demolished Colby with 48 points in the paint, compared to the Mules’ 26. Though Colby threatened often, Hamilton held the lead for most of the game.
The Continentals had 11 turnovers, eight fewer than the Mules. Pete Hoffman ’19 and Kena Gilmour ’20 posted 19 points each. Seniors Andrew Groll, Michael Grassey, and Tim Doyle also scored in double-digits with 17, 11, and 10 points, respectively. The win avenged their only home loss of the season — an 86–78 loss to the Mules on Saturday, Jan. 26 — and secured the Continentals’ spot in the semifinals of the NESCAC tournament for the second consecutive year.
Hamilton was expecting to make the trek to Vermont this weekend until news broke of Tufts’ upset of Middlebury, which secured Hamilton’s home court advantage through the rest of the NESCAC tournament. The team has certainly enjoyed its home court — they are 11–1 at home this season. The Jumbos are 5–9 on the road this season, and their last matchup with Hamilton on Saturday, Feb. 2 resulted in an 87–83 loss for Tufts. The Jumbos led by 14 points at one point, but Hamilton rallied to win.
In their respective 25 games this season, Hamilton and Tufts have nearly identical assists per game and rebounds per game (RPGs); Tufts averages two more RPGs. The Jumbos’ free throw percentage is two points higher than the Continentals’ as well, yet Hamilton shoots 48 percent from the field compared to Tufts’ 44 percent. Hamilton averages five more points per game (PPG) than Tufts, at 87 PPG. However, the key to success for Hamilton in the NESCAC semifinal will be shutting down Tufts’ Luke Rogers.
Rogers, a 6’8” sophomore from Acton-Boxborough, M.A., averages just over 14 PPG and 9 RPG. He is dangerous in the paint and will have to be met with good defense from the Continentals. In their previous matchup, Rogers had 14 points heading into halftime, but Hamilton held him to just six points in the second half, helping them secure the win along with their 50 percent field goal percentage in the last twenty minutes. 6’3” Eric Savage ’20 is also a threat, scoring 15.7 PPG and shooting nearly 80 percent from the free throw line.
If Hamilton wants to be successful this weekend, they have to refrain from unnecessary fouls. Against Colby, the Mules were in the double bonus with seven minutes remaining in the second half and Gilmour fouled out with over three minutes remaining in the contest. Additionally, Hamilton has to shoot better from the line or else they are going to get outrebounded. A 68.7 percent rebound percentage from the line does not cut it in college basketball — either rebound or make your free throws, especially late in the game.
Hamilton will take on Tufts in the first semifinal game on Saturday, Feb. 23 at 2 PM in the Margaret Bundy Scott Field House. This game will be followed by a battle of Western Massachusetts programs, with Williams and Amherst facing off at 4 PM. The championship game of the NESCAC tournament will take place at noon on Sunday, Feb. 24 at Hamilton, regardless of the outcome of the semifinal games. The Continentals will likely receive a home game in the NCAA tournament no matter what happens this weekend due to their strong regular season record and national ranking. The team has been ranked in the top-10 nationally for all but one week this season.
However, the players are not settling for anything less than a NESCAC Championship title.
“It’s exciting to think about having the opportunity to cut down your own nets on Sunday, but we’re definitely not looking past Tufts,” says Mark Lutz ’20. “We know they are a good team and want to make sure they get our best effort first, to give ourselves a chance to play for a championship on Sunday.”
Lutz’s added that he thinks the team will “make the most out of the opportunity” to play in the NESCAC semifinals at home, and he hopes that the team will be bringing out the scissors on Sunday afternoon.
The cost of tickets will be covered by the president’s office for the Hamilton community and can be picked up at the Athletics Office in the Alumni Gym. Otherwise, admission prices for the semifinals are $6 for adults and $3 for students, senior citizens and children. Admission is free for children under 2. Ticket purchases will get fans into both games on Saturday.
