Box Score

TROY, N.Y. –  Back-to-back three-pointers with under a minute to play gave the Hamilton College men’s basketball team a 61-56 victory over Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI) this afternoon at Robison Gym. With the win the Continentals improve to 8-4 overall (2-0 Liberty League), while the Red Hawks are now 6-7 (1-1 Liberty League) on the season.

Sophomore Joe Manns (Fieldale, VA/Carlisle School) and freshman Jon Ciriello (Wolcott, CT/Sacred Heart) hit three-point baskets with under a minute to play to erase a 56-55 Rensselaer lead, and give Hamilton the victory.

The Continentals never trailed in the first half, connecting on 41% of their shots from the floor. The Red Hawks shot 41.7%, in the first stanza, but struggled with turnovers, finishing the game with 26 to Hamilton’s ten.

Two free-throws from Kyle Dumas (Massena, NY/Massena Central) gave the Continentals a 39-26 lead as the teams left the floor for halftime.

Rensselaer scored 13 straight points out of the break to even the game at 39-39, on a driving lay-up by freshman Mike Brion (Nashua, NH/Bishop Guertin). The Red Hawks took a lead on their next possession, when senior Sam Zullo (Indian Lake, NY/Broadalbin-Perth) hit a three-pointer from the corner.

In a second half that saw nine lead changes and four ties, the two team were never separated by more than three points until the final minute.

Manns lead all scorers with 21 points for Hamilton. He was followed by Ciriello with 11. Sophomore Jay Simpson (Fort Washington, MD/St. John’s College) added ten points, five rebounds and four assists.

Ricky Philatre (Randolph, MA/Randolph) led the Red Hawks with ten points, while recording two rebounds and two blocked shots. Sam Simmons (Newburgh, NY/Newburgh) scored nine points and picked up six boards.

Rensselaer returns to action Tuesday evening, when it matches up with Liberty League travel partner Vassar (8pm).