Box Score
Box Score

TROY, N.Y. – Senior Harlee Wood (Clinton, MD/Bishop McNamara) scored 12 of his game-high 16 points in the second half to lead the Hamilton men's basketball team to a 73-68 victory over Rensselaer this evening at Robison Gym. With the win the Continentals improve to 13-5 overall and 7-1 in the Liberty League. The Red Hawks move to 10-9 and 4-4 in league play.

After being held to just four points on 2 of 7 shooting in the first half, Wood connected on 4 of 8 shots from the floor in the second stanza, to help turn around a 40-34 halftime deficit. He gave the visitors their first lead (54-53) since very early in the game on a three-pointer at 10:38 of the second.

RPI sophomore guard DJ Blakemore (Bloomfield Township, MI/Lahser) answered with a jumper on the ensuing possession, but Wood answered with a lay-up down low, to regain the one-point lead.

Jeremy Colon (Manchester, NH/West) hit a free-throw line jump shot to pull the Red Hawks to within a point with 7:36 to go, but a three from Hamilton freshman Ephraim McDowell (Boston, MA/Beaver Country Day School) pushed its advantage to four.

A put-back bucket by Rensselaer senior Sam Simmons (Newburgh, NY/Newburgh Free Academy) cut the deficit to two with 6:18 remaining, but Wood answered immediately with a hoop of his own.

Simmons worked inside for another lay-in at 3:58 to pull within two once again, but Hamilton junior Jay Simpson (Fort Washington, MD/St. John's College) was able to hit two free throws at the other end to regain a four point edge.

Kyle Dumas (Massena, NY/Massena Central) gave the visitors their largest lead of the game at six (69-63), with 2:46 to go, but Simmons snagged another offensive rebound and put-back to draw within four.

Trailing by five, Red Hawks' sophomore Mike Brion (Nashua, NH/Bishop Guertin) hit a triple with 15 seconds left to bring the home side to within two, but Wood connected on 3 of 4 free throws in the final 10 seconds to seal the victory for Hamilton.

Aiding Wood offensively for the Continentals was Simpson, who finished with 13 points and two assists. Freshman Patrick Sullivan (Madison, NJ/Delbarton School) picked up 12 points and seven rebounds, while sophomore Jon Ciriello (Wolcott, CT/Sacred Heart) recorded 10 points and nine boards.

The Red Hawks were led by junior Tim Rupp (Staten Island, NY/Curtin) who had 16 points and five rebounds. He was 4 of 8 from beyond the arc, including 3 of 5 in the first half. Simmons and Brion had 14 points each, with Simmons also recording team-highs in rebounds (8) and assists (3).

RPI returns to action tomorrow afternoon, when it hosts Hobart College at Robison Gym (4pm).