Matt Hart '16 poured in a game-high 23 points and Hamilton College pulled away in the second half for a 69-54 win over Vassar College in a non-conference game at Vassar’s Athletics and Fitness Center on Dec. 8.
The Continentals (4-4 overall) have won 10 straight games against the Brewers and lead the all-time series, 24-2. Hamilton knocked down eight 3-pointers (8-11) in the first half.
Hart finished 9 of 13 from the floor, and Eric Benvenuti '13 scored a season-high 11 points. Both Hart and Benvenuti knocked down 3 of 4 from long range to help Hamilton shoot 62.5 percent (10-16) on 3-pointers.
Greg Newton '14 scored all nine of his points in the second half. Hans Schulte '13 also scored nine and Ken Click '13 contributed seven points and six rebounds. Peter Kazickas '15 grabbed six boards and Joseph Lin '15 dished out a game-high four assists.
"The guys responded with one of our more efficient offensive performances," head coach Adam Stockwell said. "Although there is a lot of work ahead, we saw some positive action today."
John Donnelly '14 led the Brewers with 13 points. Jon Herzog '13 and Curtis Smith '15 scored 10 points apiece. Alex Snyder '15 posted a game-high eight rebounds and led the team with three assists. Luka Ladan '15 blocked two shots.
Vassar (3-4) scored the first eight points on back-to-back 3-pointers by Herzog and Sam Rappaport '14 and a layup by Herzog. The Continentals answered with nine straight points on a trio of 3-pointers -- two by Benvenuti and one by Kazickas.
The Brewers regained the lead at 16-9 with another 8-0 spurt midway through the first half. Trailing 18-14, Hamilton went on a 16-4 run that included four 3-pointers, and went ahead 30-22 with 1:50 to play in the half. Vassar scored the last four points and the Continentals led 30-26 at the break.
Hamilton began the second half with an 11-2 run that put the Continentals up 41-30. Hart scored seven straight during the spurt, and Schulte and Kazickas added layups. The Continentals held their largest lead of the game at 48-33 with 11:58 left following five straight points by Newton and a layup by Hart.
Vassar cut its deficit to single digits at 53-45 with 5:24 remaining when Smith hit a 3-pointer. But a basket by Newton and a pair of free throws by both Click and Newton gave Hamilton a 59-47 advantage, and the Continentals led by double digits the rest of the afternoon.
The Continentals shot 50 percent (13-26) from the field in the second half, Hamilton's nine steals helped force 15 turnovers. Vassar held a 35-34 edge in rebounds, but shot 38 percent (19-50) from the floor.
Hamilton travels to SUNY New Paltz for more non-conference action on Tuesday, Dec. 11.
