After an evenly-played first half, Babson (2-0) jumped out to an eight-point lead early in the second half before Hamilton (1-1) fought back to tie the contest midway through the period. The game remained close until the 7:45 mark, when senior tri-captain Dan Elliman (Tewksbury, Mass.) drained a three-pointer to spark a 12-0 run that put the Beavers in front, 68-56. Senior Jeff Nicholson (Methuen, Mass.) scored seven points during the three-minute stretch, while first-year Kyle McDonald (Wethersfield, Conn.) capped it off with a jumper at 4:35. Babson eventually led by as many as 15 on its way to the 75-67 victory.
Nicholson finished with 20 points, seven rebounds, and three blocks for the Beavers, while Elliman added 18 points and six boards. Senior CJ Enere (Hyde Park, Mass.) chipped in with 15 points in the winning effort, while Brown scored six points and pulled down six rebounds. Hamilton was led by junior Phil Valenti (Pittsford, N.Y.) and sophomore Nick Jones (Washington, D.C.), who were each named to the All-Tournament Team. Valenti finished with 17 points, 11 rebounds, and three steals, while Jones netted 17 points and collected eight boards.
In the consolation game, Middlebury College (1-1) edged Oberlin College (0-2) by a score of 55-53. Middlebury senior Clark Read (Pepper Pike, Ohio) drained a three-pointer from deep in the right corner to give his team a 54-49 lead with two minutes remaining, but Oberlin scored the next two baskets to get back to within one with 53 seconds left. Senior co-captain Adam Sinoway (Harrisburg, Pa.) then sank one of two free throws to put Middlebury up, 55-53, with 15.2 ticks remaining, and the Panther defense kept the ball out of the hands of Oberlin sophomore sensation Quinton Spencer (Chicago, Ill.) on the Yeomens’ final possession to clinch the victory. Spencer finished with a game-high 29 points and 16 rebounds, while Read paced Middlebury with 13 points. Both were named to the All-Tournament Team.
2004 BIT/Irving Oil All-Tournament Team
Brooks Brown, Babson College - Most Valuable Player
Greg Bush, Babson College
Phil Valenti, Hamilton College
Nick Jones, Hamilton College
Clark Read, Middlebury College
Quinton Spencer, Oberlin College