CLINTON, NY – The host Hamilton Continentals outscored the Hartwick men's basketball team 45-22 in the second half on Thursday night, turning an eight-point halftime lead into a 31-point victory, 89-58. The loss drops the Hawks to 0-7 on the year, while Hamilton moves above .500 to 4-3.
The teams stayed close early, trading buckets until Cooper Francis (Lynbrook, NY/Chaminade) and Liam Drennan (Oyster Bay, NY/Chaminade) had back-to-back lay-ups just under five minutes in to make it 10-7 Hartwick. A Francis three under a minute later made it 13-9 'Wick, although Hamilton's Eric Anderson had the next five points to give his side a 14-13 lead with 12:50 on the clock.
The Continentals maintained that lead for a while, until Sammuel Prosper (Milford, MA/Roxbury Prep) followed up a lay-up with a steal, got fouled, and hit a pair of free throws to make it 26-all with 5:52 to go. Hamilton scored the next five points, however, eventually leading by as much as 10 before taking a 44-36 lead into the locker room.
The Continentals' Teja Singh began to put the game out of reach all on his own to begin the second half, hitting back-to-back jumpers to open the frame, making a free throw after the second one, and then canning a three with 2:16 gone by for a 52-36 lead. The Hamilton lead grew to 22 at 4:40 into the half after Singh assisted a Liam Regan three, and that was all she wrote for the Hawks. 'Wick did not get within 18 for the rest of the evening as Hamilton cruised to the win.
Anthony Girard (Chestertown, NY/North Warren Central) had a game-high 19 points as well as three assists. Francis was next with 11 points, four boards, and two assists, and Nick Eiler (Highland Mills, NY/Saddle River Day) had seven points and six rebounds.
As one might expect, Hamilton handily outshot their guests, 44.6%-28.3% from the field as well as 30.3%-21.4% from deep. The Continentals also had a sizable rebounding advantage, outperforming 'Wick 48-30 on the glass. That included a 20-11 lead in offensive rebounds, leading to a massive 24-5 difference in second chance points.
'Wick is at it again on Monday, December 13 for their final game of 2021. They host SUNY Morrisville in Lambros Arena, with tip-off scheduled for 6 p.m.
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