NOTE: A corrected boxscore reflecting the final score of 77-72 has been updated on 12.30.15

PHOENIX, Ariz. – Freshman Peter Hoffman (Putnam Valley, N.Y./Haldane) scored 19 points to lead four players in double figures as the Hamilton College Continentals earned a 77-72 win over the University of Southern Maine Huskies at the 2015 Arizona Shootout Tuesday evening at the Phoenix Convention Center. 

Hamilton extends its winning streak to three games with its victory over the Huskies improving its record to 7-3.  Southern Maine finishes it Arizona trip with a 1-1 record and is now 6-6 with the loss.

Hoffman was 6-for-15 from the field to lead the Continentals.  Junior Kyle Pitman (Phoenix, Ariz./Desert Vista) added 18 points off of the bench, and senior Jack Donnelly (Locust, N.J./Rumson-Fair Haven Regional) tossed in 12 points on 5-for-10 shooting.  Sophomore Jack Dwyer (Monroe, N.Y./John S. Burke) added 10 points.

Southern Maine senior Jose Nouchanthavong (Westbrook, Maine) led the Huskies with a game-high 21 points on 8-for-17 shooting, including a 3-for-6 effort from three-point range.  Juniors Zach Leal (York, Maine) and Atencio Martin (Kittery, Maine/Traip Academy) scored 15 and 13 points respectively, while Martin snagged a game-high 10 rebounds to grab a double-double.  Senior Cole Libby (Buxton, Maine/Bonny Eagle) tossed in 11 points.

In a back-and-forth first half that saw eight lead changes, Hamilton led at the break 33-28.  The Huskies led by a point 28-27 on a three from Nouchanthavong with 3:39 remaining in the half, but Hamilton closed out the half with a 6-0 mini-run. Dwyer, Pitman and freshman Andrew Groll (Armonk, N.Y./Byram Hills) each scored in the Continentals' half-closing spurt highlighted by a three from Pitman.

Southern Maine started the second half hot, outscoring Hamilton 19-10 in the first five minutes to secure a 47-41 lead with 14:29 to play. Nouchanthavong and Leal paced the Huskies' run scoring six and five points each.  Hamilton weathered the Huskies' attack and rallied to tie the score at 47 on back-to-back buckets from Hoffman.

After trading baskets and the lead over the next few possessions, Hoffman secure Hamilton the lead for good with a layup with 9:00 minutes to play.  The Huskies stayed within striking distance and never trailed by more than seven points the rest of the way.  USM made it a four-point game, 72-68, with 1:45 left on the clock after a three from Leal, but Hamilton was able to close the game out on the line making 4-of-6 down the stretch for the 77-72 win.

Southern Maine returns to Maine and will face Keene State College in Little East Conference action on Saturday (January 9) at 3:00 p.m. Hamilton College faces Wisconsin-Stevens Point on Wednesday (8:00 p.m.) in the Arizona Shootout.

–cac–