Hamilton College broke open a close game with a 12-0 run midway through the first half and the Continentals went on to post a 92-67 non-conference win against the Nichols College Bison at Hamilton's Margaret Bundy Scott Field House on Saturday afternoon.

The Continentals (9-1 overall) pushed the tempo for most of the game and even employed a full-court pressure defense at times. Hamilton finished with 24 fast break points and enjoyed a 54-34 advantage in points in the paint. The Continentals, who put up 78 shots, overwhelmed Nichols on the boards, 52-36. Hamilton continued to receive votes in this week's D3hoops.com Top 25 poll.

The nationally ranked No. 17 Bison (7-2) have two losses and an overtime win in their last three games. Nichols shot 39.1 percent from the field and committed 18 turnovers.

Hamilton's Kena Gilmour '20 led all players with 14 points. Gilmour upped his career total to 1,604 points and is just the eighth Continental to eclipse 1,600. Nkosi Cooper '23 had a fine all-around game with 12 points, nine rebounds and six assists. Spencer Kendall '21 and Mark Lutz '20 chipped in 11 points apiece.

Eric Anderson '22 contributed eight points, nine boards and two blocked shots for Hamilton. Anderson made both of his 3-point shot attempts and leads the NESCAC with a 3-point field goal percentage of 58.3 percent (14-24). Vince Conn '21 and Patrick Mogan '23 scored eight points apiece and Nick Osarenren '22 came away with three steals off the bench. Elliott Tirbaso '22 had five of the team's 15 offensive rebounds.

Matt Morrow posted a double-double with 12 points and 12 boards for the Bison. Jaekwon Spencer and Nate Tenaglia added 12 points apiece and Jason O'Regan dropped in 11 -- all in the second half. DeAnte Bruton registered nine points and four assists and Tyren Clark scored nine off the bench.

The Continentals scored the first four points and never trailed. A jumper by Morrow forged the lone tie at 10-10 with 14:27 left in the first half. Hamilton scored the next four points before Morrow passed to Bruton for a jumper that pulled Nichols within two at 14-12.

The Continentals took control by scoring the next 12 points during a span of just over three minutes. Conn started the spurt with a jumper and Gilmour came up with a steal and a layup. Gilmour went 1-for-2 at the free-throw line and, after an offensive rebound by Anderson, Osarenren passed to Conn on the left wing for a 3-pointer. Tirbaso made a steal and layup and Anderson's offensive board and putback gave Hamilton a 26-12 advantage with 9:21 remaining. The Bison missed three shots and turned the ball over five times during the run.

Nichols didn't get closer than 12 points the rest of the way. The Continentals led by as many as 17 points late in the half and they went into the locker room with a 45-30 cushion. Morrow scored 10 of his 12 points in the opening 20 minutes for the Bison.

Hamilton continued to pour it on in the second half. A jumper by Kendall with 15:17 to go gave the Continentals their first 20-point lead at 57-37. Hamilton took its largest lead of 28 points twice late in the second half. Cooper passed to Anderson for a 3-pointer that made it 84-56 with 5:39 left and Cooper grabbed an offensive board and kicked it back out to Liam Regan '23 for another trifecta and an 87-59 advantage with 3:09 remaining.

The Continentals are off for finals and the holidays before they return to the court on Friday, Jan. 3 for another non-conference home contest against local rival Utica College at 2 p.m.