Clinton, N.Y. - The visiting Trinity College Bantams closed the 2019-20 regular season with a 90-71 loss against the Hamilton College Continentals in New England Small College Athletic Conference (NESCAC) men's basketball action this afternoon.  The Bantams fall to an overall record of 16-8 and clinch the No. 4 seed in the NESCAC Championship Tournament with a 6-4 record in the league.  The Continentals improve to 16-8 overall and 4-6 in the NESCAC but await tomorrow afternoon's Bowdoin/Wesleyan result to learn their post-season fate.  Trinity will host Middlebury in the NESCAC Quarterfinals next Saturday.

The Bantams started the first half positively, jumping out to a 10-0 lead thanks largely to two three-point shots from junior Colin Donovan (Westborough, Mass.). Hamilton recovered quickly with senior Kena Gilmour (New Paltz, N.Y.) and sophomore Nick Osarenren (Lynnfield, N.Y.) connecting from long range to cut its deficit to 14-10 with 16:19 on the clock. The three-point fest continued, as Trinity freshman Stephen Lora (North Providence, R.I.) and senior Joe Bell (Manchester, N.H.) hit treys to extend the Bantam lead to 23-15 with 11:51 left to play. Continental senior guard Mark Lutz (Fayetteville, N.Y.) gave Hamilton their first lead of the game after hitting consecutive three-point shots, and got fouled on the second to put his side up, 25-22, with 11:20 on the clock.

Trinity clawed its way back and senior co-captain Nick Seretta (Greenfield, Mass.) hit two free throws to draw the Bantams level, 34-34 with 6:10 to play before the break. Continental guard Eric Anderson (Santa Barbra, Calif.) made a corner three to put Hamilton up, 45-36, with 4:20 left in the half, but Trinity junior forward Donald Jorden (Tampa, Fla.) placed a right handed hook-shot over a Hamilton defender and Donovan crossed his defender and finished with a left-handed moments later to help pull Trinity to within four at 50-46 inside the final minute. Hamilton's Sayo Denloye (Porter Ranch, Calif.) made a trey as time expired to head to the locker room with his team up, 53-46.

Hamilton gradually extended its lead after the break, leading by as many as 24 points.  A Donovan layup made the score 66-57 at the 10:55 mark, but the Continentals answered right back and led by double digits the rest of the way.  Donovan ended his night with 20 points, while Jorden finished with 12 points and nine rebounds before fouling out at the 6:27 mark. Bell contributed with nine points off the bench, and Seretta contributed nine points and eight rebounds. For the Continentals, senior Kena Gilmour earned a game-high 33 points and 10 rebounds, while Senior Sayo Denloye (Porter Ranch, Calif.) and Anderson rounded off double-digit scoring for the Continentals with 13 and 11 respectively.  Hamilton made 30 free throws in 42 tries and held Trinity to a 34.2 shooting percentage from the floor.  Trinity outrebounded the Continentals, 51-44.