Box Score Box Score
CLINTON, N.Y. - Four players tallied in double figures to lead Hamilton to a 75-63 victory over the Rensselaer men’s basketball team in Liberty League playoff action this evening. With the victory the Continentals improve to 21-4 overall and will move on to tomorrow's championship game against Union. The Red Hawks finish the season with an 11-14 overall mark.
Junior Tsakane Ngobeni (Soweto, S. Africa/Saint Annes Belfield School) led all scorers with 16 of his game-high 27 points in the first half, on 7-of-8 shooting. It was a back and forth battle in the half which saw both teams shoot well. The Continentals shot 52.7 percent (29-55) from the field and made nine steals to help force 20 turnovers. Rensselaer shot 52 percent (13-25) from the floor in the first 20 minutes as it went into the break trailing just 39-33. Senior Tom Schneider (Nashua, NH/Bishop Guertin) led Rensselaer with 15 points on 5-of-6 shooting.
In the second half Hamilton came out firing pulling ahead by as much as 28 points (50-38) at the 16 minute mark. The Red Hawks would attempt a comeback mid-way through the half, cutting the deficit to as few as eight (61-53) but it wasn't enough as the Continentals built up the lead to as many as 14 point s down the stretch.
In addition to his 27 points on 12-of-15 shooting, Ngobeni added nine rebounds, one assist, two blocks and one steal in 32 minutes. Junior Nick Jones (Washington, DC) tallied 16 points while senior Tim Welchons (New Hartford, NY/New Hartford) scored 14 points. Sophomore Zarrette Rogers (New City, NY) chipped in with 10 points and three rebounds in the game.
Schneider, the Liberty League Player of the Year, paced the Red Hawks with 24 points and a game-high 11 rebounds (4 off.). He chipped in four assists, one block and one steal in 37 minutes. Schneider also tied a tournament record with six three-pointers made in one game. Senior guards Neal Wesson (Portsmouth, RI/Portsmouth) and Joe Johnson (Hopewell Junction, NY/John Jay) added 10 points each for the Red Hawks.
