Box Score

GENEVA, N.Y.—Junior forward Pat Sullivan scored a game-high 27 points, including 18 in the first half, to carry the Hamilton College men's basketball team to a 62-60 upset of Hobart College in the semifinals of the Liberty League Tournament in Bristol Gym tonight. The Continentals will face No. 3 Skidmore, a 76-69 upset winner over No. 2 Rensselaer, in the championship game at 3 p.m. on Saturday, Feb. 26.

The Statesmen (19-7) won both regular season meetings by a combined total of six points, but trailed Hamilton (16-9) for most of the night. Hobart had two chances to tie the game in the second half. After rallying from a 10-point deficit, first-year guard Blair Helton sank a pair of free throws to make it a two-point game, 48-46, with 7:05 to go.

The Continentals turned the ball over on the ensuing possession, but the Statesmen missed a jumper. Sullivan made Hobart pay, hitting a jumper at the other end of the floor and kick-starting a 6-0 run. The Statesmen closed the gap to one, 58-57, on a 3-pointer by junior forward Matt Pebole with 35 seconds left.

Hobart quickly fouled and first-year Ryan Wright calmly made both free throws to stretch the visitors' lead to three. The Statesmen tried what would have been a game tying 3 with 13 ticks left, but the shot rattled off the iron and Hobart was forced to foul again.

First-year guard Greg Newton (9 pts, 9 rebs) made the backend of the two shot try to make it a two possession game. Senior Guard Tim Llewellyn (9 pts, 3 assts, 3 stls) made a 3-pointer with just 0.2 seconds remaining for a 61-60 deficit. Hobart fouled before the inbounds pass was made and Wright made the first free throw and missed the second and time expired without a Hobart shot attempt.

Sullivan was 8-of-10 from the floor in the first half with a pair of 3s and finished 12-of-17 from the field. Wright joined him in double figures with 10 points. Hamilton shot 50 percent from the floor, including 4-of-11 from beyond the arc, while limiting Hobart to just 30.6 percent shooting.

Pebole and Helton both netted 15 points to pace the Statesmen. Senior forward Adam Salzmann grabbed a team-high eight rebounds, helping Hobart to a 35-33 edge on the glass. The Statesmen were able stay within striking distance by hitting 9 3-pointers and connecting on 13-of-15 from the line.

This is the second time Hobart has hosted the Liberty League semifinals and championship. All four semifinals have been won by the lower seed. No. 4 seeded Union won the 2005 championship in Bristol Gym.