Welchons passed the 1,000-point mark for his career in the first half and now has 1,014. Staunton Peck '06 posted a double-double with 10 points and 11 rebounds for Hamilton (23-4 overall). The Continentals won their first NCAA tournament game since 2003, when they defeated St. John Fisher College 72-68 in the second round.
Anthony Williams '08 led Plattsburgh (18-11) with a game-high 19 points. Williams scored 17 after in the second half and overtime, when the Cardinals erased a 33-24 halftime deficit. Kris Gibbs-Smith '06 chipped in 13 points, eight boards and four assists. Travis Gorham '08 added nine points on 4 of 4 shooting from the field and pulled down a game-high 14 rebounds. Plattsburgh was playing in its first NCAA tournament game since an 83-74 loss to Hamilton in 1995.
The Continentals led the entire first half. The score was 23-22 with 9:56 left and Hamilton ended the half on a 10-2 run. Ngobeni finished with 12 points in the first 20 minutes.
The lead grew to 13 points (40-27) early in the second half, but the Cardinals came roaring back. Trailing 48-38 with 11:59 remaining in regulation, Plattsburgh embarked on a 13-1 run and took its first lead at 51-49 on two free throws by Antwane Miller '08 with 5:05 left. There were four lead changes and five ties in the final five minutes. Ngobeni's jumper with 43 seconds left tied the score at 61. The Cardinals had a chance to win in the closing seconds, but Miller's lay-up attempt rolled off the rim as time ran out.
After Welchons' free throw 1:02 into overtime made the score 62-61, the lead changed hands four more times, until Nick Jones '07 grabbed a missed three-pointer by Welchons and put it back in for a 66-65 lead with 44 seconds left. Plattsburgh missed a three-pointer and fouled Welchons, who missed two free throws with 19 seconds left. The Cardinals' Gibbs-Smith was fouled on a drive to the basket with 1.6 seconds left. He missed both free throws and the second miss was batted out of bounds as time ran out.
The Continentals shot 41.1 percent (23-56) from the field and Plattsburgh shot 41.3 percent (26-63) from the floor. Hamilton plays nationally ranked No. 4 Amherst College in a second round game on Saturday, March 4, at 7 p.m.
PLATTM vs Hamilton College 03/02/06 7 p.m. at Scott Field House; Clinton, N.Y. At Scott Field House; Clinton, N.Y. HAMILTON COLLEGE 66, PLATTM 65 PLATTM (18-11) WILLIAMS, Anthony 8-20 1-2 19; GIBBS-SMITH, Kris 6-15 0-2 13; GORHAM, Travis 4-4 0-0 9; MILLER, Antwane 2-8 4-4 8; DIETZ, Mike 3-6 0-0 8; DUMONT, Jerrad 2-8 0-0 5; HATCH, Brian 1-2 1-2 3. Totals 26-63 6-11 65. HAMILTON COLLEGE (23-4) Tim Welchons 6-19 4-8 18; Tsakane Ngobeni 6-13 4-4 18; Staunton Peck 2-3 4-6 10; Nick Jones 3-7 0-0 6; Phil Valenti 2-5 1-2 5; Giorgi Chavleishvili 2-5 0-0 4; Harlee Wood 1-2 1-2 3; Zarrette Rogers 1-2 0-0 2. Totals 23-56 14-22 66. PLATTM........................ 24 37 4 - 65 Hamilton College.............. 33 28 5 - 66 3-point goals-PLATTM 7-25 (WILLIAMS, Anthony 2-9; DIETZ, Mike 2-4; GIBBS-SMITH, Kris 1-4; DUMONT, Jerrad 1-5; GORHAM, Travis 1-1; MILLER, Antwane 0-2), Hamilton College 6-20 (Tsakane Ngobeni 2-3; Staunton Peck 2-2; Tim Welchons 2-8; Zarrette Rogers 0-1; Phil Valenti 0-2; Nick Jones 0-4). Fouled out--PLATTM-None, Hamilton College-None. Rebounds-PLATTM 41 (GORHAM, Travis 14), Hamilton College 34 (Staunton Peck 11). Assists-PLATTM 9 (GIBBS-SMITH, Kris 4), Hamilton College 9 (Tim Welchons 3). Total fouls-PLATTM 18, Hamilton College 16. A-1387 NCAA Division III Championships tournament first round game Winner plays at Amherst College on Saturday at 7 p.m. Hamilton's 9th NCAA Championships appearance Plattsburgh's 3rd NCAA Championships appearance