Ephraim McDowell '12 tied a season high with 22 points to lead Hamilton College to a 71-60 win against Utica College in a non-league men's basketball game at Hamilton's Margaret Bundy Scott Field House on Dec. 1.
Hamilton (4-1 overall) held Utica scoreless for the final four minutes. The Pioneers (3-1) had tied the score at 60-60 on a jumper by Marion Lewis '14. The Continentals then scored the last 11 points. Hamilton went 9-for-11 at the free-throw line during the game-ending run.
McDowell has scored 20 or more points in a game three times this season. He was 6 of 10 from the field, including four 3-pointers, and a perfect 6-for-6 at the line. Greg Newton '14 dropped in 12 points, and Pat Sullivan '12 chipped in 10 and six rebounds. Jon Ciriello '11 came off the bench to score eight points, grab five boards and make two steals.
Will Abrams '11 gave Utica a 3-0 lead with a 3-pointer on the Pioneers' first possession. The Continentals responded with a 15-2 run and led for the rest of the half. Hamilton's largest lead of the game was 15 points at 36-21 with four minutes left in the first half. Utica finished the half on an 11-4 run, and the Continentals went to the break with a 40-32 advantage. Hamilton shot 51.7 percent from the floor in the opening 20 minutes.
The Pioneers roared back in the second half. A layup by Lewis put Utica up 51-50 midway through the half, and a jumper by Kevin Johnson '13 snapped a 53-53 tie with eight minutes remaining. Hamilton scored the next seven points on a 3-pointer by Sullivan, a layup by Ryan Wright '14 and a jumper by Newton, to go back up 60-55 with six minutes left. A 3-pointer by Johnson and a jumper by Lewis forged the fourth tie of the night at 60-60 with four minutes remaining.
Ciriello took over at that point with a series of key plays. He grabbed a defensive rebound, was fouled and made two free throws for a 62-60 lead with three minutes left. With one minute remaining and the Continentals clinging to a three-point lead, Ciriello made a steal and then nailed a jumper that made it 65-60 with 41 seconds left. Newton and McDowell combined to go 6-for-6 at the line during the final 23 seconds.
The Pioneers owned a 42-30 advantage in rebounds, including 19 on the offensive end, but shot just 36.5 percent from the field. Hamilton made more free throws (18) then Utica attempted (11). Led by McDowell, the Continentals were 7 of 13 (53.8 percent) from 3-point range. Hamilton leads the all-time series, 74-27.
The Continentals go on the road for the first time this season on Tuesday, Dec. 7, when they travel to Williams College. The Pioneers play Thomas College in the opening round of a tournament at Skidmore College on Saturday, Dec. 4.
