The game featured the teams with the two best records in the league. Hamilton (6-1 league, 14-3 overall) has won four of its last five games. The Saints (6-1, 8-9) had its four-game win streak come to an end.
Phil Valenti '06 led the Continentals with 14 points and a game-high five steals. Staunton Peck '06 chipped in 13 points, four assists and three steals. Giorgi Chavleishvili '08 scored 11 of his 13 points in the first half as Hamilton built a 45-39 lead at the break. Nick Jones '07 scored ten points and grabbed nine rebounds off the bench. Tim Welchons '06 added ten points. Welchons leads the Continentals with 15.3 points per game.
Bela Vonnak '09 poured in a game-high 19 points with 12 rebounds for St. Lawrence. Leading scorer Tyler Shaver '08 (13.8 ppg) dropped in 17 points and Tom Wopperer '09 added 13 before fouling out.
The game was tightly contested early as there were six ties in the first ten minutes. The Saints led 23-22 with 8:34 left when Hamilton scored the next seven points for a 29-23 advantage with 6:36 remaining. The Continentals stayed in front the rest of the game. Hamilton was up by as much as 20 points (75-55) with 11:50 left in the second half.
Both teams shot the ball extremely well. St. Lawrence made 53.1 percent (26-49) of their field goal attempts and the Continentals shot 52.4 percent (33-63). The difference may have been Hamilton's full court pressure, which accounted for 13 steals and 23 Saint turnovers. The Continentals attempted 14 more shots than the Saints. St. Lawrence still leads the all-time series, 43-41.
St. Lawrence University vs Hamilton College 01/28/06 4:05 p.m. at Scott Field House; Clinton, N.Y. At Scott Field House; Clinton, N.Y. HAMILTON COLLEGE 87, ST. LAWRENCE UNIVERSITY 76 ST. LAWRENCE UNIVERSITY (6-1 Liberty, 8-9) Bela Vonnak 6-9 7-9 19; Tyler Shaver 6-13 3-4 17; Tom Wopperer 3-5 5-7 13; Richard Williams 4-4 0-2 8; Jimmy White 4-9 0-3 8; Pat Delmonico 2-4 1-2 6; Matt Blue 1-2 1-2 4; Ben Augliano 0-1 1-2 1; Shane Connolly 0-2 0-0 0. Totals 26-49 18-31 76. HAMILTON COLLEGE (6-1 Liberty,14-3) Phil Valenti 5-8 3-5 14; Staunton Peck 5-8 2-3 13; Giorgi Chavleishvili 6-14 1-1 13; Tim Welchons 3-9 4-4 10; Nick Jones 4-8 1-6 10; Zarrette Rogers 3-6 1-1 8; Tsakane Ngobeni 3-4 1-3 7; Harlee Wood 3-5 0-0 6; Jeff Bernardi 1-1 3-4 6. Totals 33-63 16-27 87. St. Lawrence University....... 39 37 - 76 Hamilton College.............. 45 42 - 87 3-point goals-St. Lawrence University 6-12 (Tom Wopperer 2-2; Tyler Shaver 2-5; Matt Blue 1-2; Pat Delmonico 1-2; Shane Connolly 0-1), Hamilton College 5-13 (Staunton Peck 1-2; Zarrette Rogers 1-2; Jeff Bernardi 1-1; Nick Jones 1-2; Phil Valenti 1-4; Tim Welchons 0-2). Fouled out--St. Lawrence University-Tom Wopperer; Richard Williams, Hamilton College-Tsakane Ngobeni. Rebounds-St. Lawrence University 38 (Bela Vonnak 12), Hamilton College 31 (Nick Jones 9). Assists-St. Lawrence University 11 (Jimmy White 3), Hamilton College 13 (Staunton Peck 4). Total fouls-St. Lawrence University 25, Hamilton College 20. A-486