Middlebury (5-3 overall) won its third straight game. Hamilton suffered its first loss in six games this season, but still leads the all-time series with the Panthers, 21-12.
Rudin was one of five Middlebury players that scored in double figures. Andrew Harris '08 paced the Panthers with 15 points. Aaron Smith '09 added 13 and a game-high eight rebounds. Chris Dowd '07 came off the bench to drain three three-pointers and finished with 13 points. Mike Walsh '08 chipped in 11 points and seven boards in a reserve role.
The Continentals' Tsakani Ngobeni '07 tied a season high with 29 points and pulled down six rebounds. Ngobeni came into the game averaging 21.2 points per game. Harlee Wood '09 poured in 21 points for the second straight game. Giorgi Chavleishvili '08 made 4 of 5 field goal attempts and ended up with 10 points off the bench. Jay Simpson '10 made a pair of three-pointers to keep Hamilton close in the final minute and wound up with 10 points.
Middlebury trailed 44-35 at the half, but a three-point basket by Wil Hyatt '07 with 12:12 left in the second half gave the Panthers a 58-57 lead -- their first since the score was 5-4. The lead traded hands several times until Smith put Middlebury in front for good at 74-72 on a lay-up with 4:13 remaining. Harris gave the Panthers a five-point cushion at 81-76 on a three-pointer with 2:01 left. A three by Simpson pulled the Continentals within one at 85-84 with six ticks remaining. Rudin made one free throw and missed the second with five seconds left. Nick Jones '07 grabbed the rebound for Hamilton and got the ball to Ramunas Rozgys '09 in the frontcourt, but Rudin knocked the ball away as time ran out.
The Continentals led by as many as 17 points three times in the first half. Hamilton shot 69 percent (20-29) from the floor in the first 20 minutes. Middlebury shot 32.1 percent (9-28) from the field, but made 14 of 17 free throws to stay within striking distance at the break.
The Continentals travel to Tampa, Fla., to play Haverford College on Dec. 29. The Panthers play the University of New England in Biddeford, Maine, on Jan. 3.
Middlebury College vs Hamilton College 12/09/06 3 p.m. at Scott Field House; Clinton, N.Y. At Scott Field House; Clinton, N.Y. MIDDLEBURY COLLEGE 86, HAMILTON COLLEGE 84 MIDDLEBURY COLLEGE (5-3) Andrew Harris 4-12 4-5 15; Ben Rudin 4-7 6-8 14; Chris Dowd 4-11 2-2 13; Aaron Smith 5-8 3-4 13; Mike Walsh 5-8 1-1 11; Evan Thompson 2-5 4-4 9; Bobby Marcoux 1-4 1-2 3; Wil Hyatt 1-1 0-0 3; Kyle Dudley 0-3 2-2 2; Albert Handy 1-1 0-0 2; Tim Edwards 0-6 1-3 1; Kevin Kelleher 0-2 0-0 0. Totals 27-68 24-31 86. HAMILTON COLLEGE (5-1) Tsakani Ngobeni 11-16 7-9 29; Harlee Wood 8-12 4-6 21; Giorgi Chavleishvili 4-5 2-3 10; Jay Simpson 3-7 2-5 10; Nick Jones 3-5 1-2 8; Joe Manns 1-1 0-0 2; Dave Alston 1-4 0-0 2; Zarrette Rogers 1-2 0-0 2; Ramunas Rozgys 0-3 0-0 0. Totals 32-55 16-25 84. Middlebury College............ 35 51 - 86 Hamilton College.............. 44 40 - 84 3-point goals-Middlebury College 8-26 (Chris Dowd 3-7; Andrew Harris 3-9; Evan Thompson 1-2; Wil Hyatt 1-1; Kyle Dudley 0-1; Tim Edwards 0-4; Kevin Kelleher 0-1; Ben Rudin 0-1), Hamilton College 4-10 (Jay Simpson 2-3; Harlee Wood 1-2; Nick Jones 1-2; Dave Alston 0-2; Ramunas Rozgys 0-1). Fouled out--Middlebury College-None, Hamilton College-Tsakani Ngobeni. Rebounds-Middlebury College 40 (Aaron Smith 8), Hamilton College 35 (Tsakani Ngobeni 6). Assists-Middlebury College 20 (Ben Rudin 10), Hamilton College 8 (Tsakani Ngobeni 2; Zarrette Rogers 2). Total fouls-Middlebury College 20, Hamilton College 27. A-437