Clinton, NY --- The No. 6 WPI men's basketball team dropped its first game of the 2022-23 season, falling to Hamilton on the road on Saturday, 86-77. The Engineers' season mark is now 5-1, while the Continentals improve to 6-2. 

Backed by hot three-point shooting, Hamilton led by six after 20 and then held off several WPI charges in the second half to snap the Engineers' five-game win streak. The Continentals had five players in double figures in scoring, led by Hank Morgan (Caldwell, NJ) who tallied 21 points with five boards. Teja Singh (Seattle, WA) shot 60% from the field and 75% from three to add 19 points, while Eric Anderson (Santa Barbara, CA) also added 19 points with a team-high nine boards. Conner Rood (Austin, TX) had 12 points and eight boards while Patrick Mogan (Chestnut Hill, MA) chipped in with 10. 

WPI's offense was led by John Lowther (Hingham, MA) and Aidan Callahan (Rowley, MA), who combined for 48 points. Lowther shot 63.5% from the field to finish with a season-high 25 points, adding two blocks, while Callahan had a career-best 23 points with a pair of steals. John Adams (Douglas, MA) rounded out the WPI box score with 12 points and a team-best nine rebounds, missing a double-double by one rebound for the third time this season. 

Hamilton opened the first half with a Singh three, pushing the lead to 13-7 after seven minutes of play. The Engineers tied things at the halfway point on a pair of free throws from Marelli, before taking their first lead of the game on a driving lay-up from Callahan to make it 19-17 with 9:54 on the clock. 

The Continentals answered with a 13-4 run to take a 30-23 lead with 4:46 left in the half. WPI cut the lead to three, but Hamilton ended the half with a 7-4 bulge to take a 37-31 advantage into the break. 

Long-range shooting was the story of the first half, as WPI out-shot Hamilton, 54.1% (13-24) to 41.9% (13-31), but the Engineers were 0-3 from three while Hamilton connected for six from deep, providing the edge in an otherwise evenly matched half. 

The Continentals came out shooting in the second half, rattling off a 9-0 run to take their largest lead of the game at 46-31. WPI got the advantage down to eight points, as a Lowther three capped a 13-5 run to make it 60-52 with 10 to play. 

An 8-2 surge from Hamilton put the hosts back up by 14 (68-54) with 5:57 on the clock, before one final run from WPI. The Crimson and Gray got a three from Donovan Sevilla (San Ramon, CA), the first points by an Engineer other Lowther (17), Callahan (17) or Adams (5) in the second half (39 straight points) to cut it to 80-73 with 1:12 to go, but the surge was too little, too late, as Hamilton held on for the 86-77 win.  

Hamilton finished with a 48.1% (26-54) to 44.4% (28-63) shooting edge while shooting 50% (11-22) from three. The Engineers were held to a 22.2% (4-18) clip from long range, while also losing the rebound battle, 41-30. 

WPI will look to re-start its win streak on Wednesday, hosting Husson at 6pm. Hamilton next hosts Utica on Thursday at home, tipping off at 7pm.