Box Score

Elmira, NY – The Elmira College Men's Basketball team dropped a battle in heartbreaking fashion as a Kurt Dutcher '14 game-tying layup was waved off at the buzzer in a 62-60 loss to visiting Hamilton College Tuesday afternoon in Speidel Gymnasium. The win improves the Continentals to 1-1, while the loss drops the Soaring Eagles to 0-2.

Elmira got out to a quick 10-4 start after a Chris Cassidy '14 jumper six minutes in. The Purple and Gold held their largest lead of the game taking an 11 point advantage at 28-17 after a Derrick Vogel '14 lay-in with 5:30 remaining in the half. The Continentals closed the frame on an 11-2 run to trail just 30-28 at intermission.

The teams played a back-and-forth first 15 minutes of the second half. The Soaring Eagles opened up a seven point advantage at 45-38 midway through the stanza after a Josh Keys '14 trey off a nifty feed from Dan O'Brien '13. The Continentals responded with a remarkable 12-0 run to claim a 50-45 lead with just over five minutes remaining. Matt Hart had the final seven points on the spurt for Hamilton. The Continentals opened up a six point lead at 56-50 with 3:31 remaining.

Elmira got within one at 58-57 with 58 seconds remaining after O'Brien converted one of two free throws. Ken Click drained a tough fade away jumper with 33 seconds remaining to give Hamilton a 60-57 lead. Keys proved clutch knocking down a three-pointer with the gentle shooter's roll with 14 seconds left to knot it at 60 all.

Out of a timeout Hamilton drew up a play for Greg Newton who converted a 15-footer to reclaim the lead with 3.9 seconds to play. Elmira called time out and on the ensuing play inbounded the ball to Kurt Dutcher '14 who dribbled the length of the floor and laid it in as time expired.

The shot was immediately ruled no good as the officials claimed it left his fingertips after the buzzer sounded, as Hamilton survived for the 62-60 win.

Cassidy paced the Purple and Gold with 15 points and seven rebounds while shooting 7-for-13 from the field. Keys added 12 points draining four of his seven attempts from distance. Dutcher tallied 10 points and four rebounds, while Vogel recorded four assists compared to zero turnovers. O'Brien added seven points and three helpers.

Click and Newton led a balanced Continental squad with 16 and 14 points, respectively. Hamilton had a 34-26 advantage in points in the paint, while the Soaring Eagles held a 27-16 bench points edge.

The EC Men's Basketball team returns to action Tuesday, November 27th when it travels to take on SUNY Fredonia starting at 7:00 p.m.