As of Jan. 15, the Hamilton men’s basketball team is ranked 14th in the D3hoops.com men’s national top 25, Hamilton’s highest ranking since the introduction of the poll in the 1999–2000 season. The team has began the season with 15 straight wins. The Continentals started off the new year with a 36-point win against Wells College, along with three additional wins against NESCAC rivals Trinity College, then-14th ranked Wesleyan University, and Connecticut College. After 14 games, the Hamilton men’s basketball team remains as one of only four undefeated teams in their division and is ranked first in the NESCAC.
On Jan. 7, the Continentals opened their long string of NESCAC games ex- tending into mid-February with a win against the Trinity College Bantams. The Continentals boasted a 23-point margin of victory (78–55), the largest for either team over a 26-game record of play. They were held under 89 points for only the second time this season, with the team typically averaging 94.8 points per game. The Bantams shot only 34 percent from the field, proving Hamilton’s defense unyielding, which bodes well as they soon face other NESCAC rivals. Five of Hamilton’s players scored double digit points including Kena Gilmour ’20 with 23, Tim Doyle ’19 with 13, Michael Grassey ’19 with 12, Andrew Groll ’19 with 11, and Peter Hoffman ’19 with 10. Gilmour led the team with eight rebounds, went four of five at the free-throw line, and added three three-pointers.
On Jan. 12 at the Margaret Bundy Scott Fieldhouse, the Continentals faced the Wesleyan University Cardinals, their toughest rival of the season and clinched a very well-deserved victory, winning 76-70. Neither team was ahead by more than six points for the first 15 minutes of the first half. Gilmour was Hamilton’s highest scorer with 20 points, followed by Hoffman with 12 points. Pucci, Grassey, Groll, Tyler Washington ’21, Vince Conn ’20, and Jack Dwyer ’18 all added at least two in the first half to push Hamilton ahead by five at halftime. With two minutes remaining in the first half, Gilmour added a three-pointer giving Hamilton its biggest lead of the night at 34-21. During the second half, Hamilton’s lead wavered between two and 10 points but the Continentals responded with persistence and well-executed plays. The second half started off strongly for Hamilton as they were up by 10 about 5 minutes into play. Despite Wesleyan’s comeback to only a three-point deficit with about 10 minutes into play, both Pucci and Doyle added three-pointers to put Hamilton ahead by seven. The final 2 minutes were critical, as Hamilton was only up by four, but Dwyer, Gilmour, and Doyle each added two free-throws, putting Hamilton ahead by six.
When asked about what worked well for the Continentals during this tough game, Pucci responded, “Our expectation was that we were going to win, but we knew it wasn’t going to be easy. When they were ninth nationally last year, we routed them at home so we knew they’d be eager to get revenge. I think that motivated us even more. This year’s Wesleyan team was just as if not tougher than last year. Going into the game we felt as though we had the advantage offensively, but we knew we’d have to compete well on the defensive end against their physical lineup. Happily we were able to do just that which showed a tremendous amount of growth from the guys.”
Determined to continue their winning streak, the Continentals dominated the game both offensively and defensively against the Connecticut College Camels the next day at the Margaret Bundy Scott Fieldhouse. Four players scored double- digit points. Both Grassey and Hoffman scored career-highs of 27 points each and Conn and Gilmour added 11 points.
Pucci attributes the team’s success to “a mixture of experience and a shift in culture. Our talented team last year showed spurts of high-level play, but in the end our youth and inexperience prevailed. With so many contributors returning this year, we’ve added confidence individually and in one another. There’s also been a contagious cultural shift where players truly enjoy the grind, expect to win, and hold each other accountable on and off the court. Combining that foundation with our recent success has created a mindset of confidence and belief, but also of constant hunger.”
This cultural shift has again allowed the Continentals to continue their winning streak, picking up another win in a non-conference game against SUNY Geneseo. This game was the men’s second-to-last home game in January, after which they begin a long road stretch against the remaining NESCAC competition.
Pucci adds that things are looking good for the team moving forward. He went on to say, “I think our training has been great. The guys are self-motivated, and the coaching staff has been preparing us well. I think ultimately the test of our success will be if we can resist any form of complacency from entering our mindset.”
The Continentals looked to pick up another non-conference win against SUNY Geneseo on Jan. 16. The teams were tied at 34 at halftime and the Knights pulled ahead in the second half to put the Continentals’ perfect season in serious danger; trailing by nine points with under four minutes remaining. However, Hamilton was not to be denied, ratcheting up the defensive pressure to hold the Knights scoreless in the final 3:54. Two Gilmour free-throws capped off a 13-0 run by the Continentals to seal the team’s 15th consecutive win by a score of 74-70. Gilmour led Hamilton with 20 points in the game and added eight rebounds and six steals in the victory. Doyle also had a stand out performance, putting up 16 points while dishing out a team high six assists.
The Continentals play at Amherst College at 3 p.m. on Saturday, Jan. 20 and return for their final home game before their long NESCAC road stretch against Cazenovia College on Monday, Jan. 22 at 7 p.m.
