MIDDLETOWN, Conn. – Sophomores
Chris Hammond and
Charlie Randall combined for 43 points as the Amherst College men's basketball team clinched at least a share of the Little Three championship with a 70-63 win over Wesleyan University in NESCAC action on Friday night at Silloway Gymnasium.
The Mammoths improved to 13-7 overall and 4-2 in NESCAC play with their fifth straight win while the Cardinals dropped to 11-8 overall and 2-3 in conference play. The Mammoths are assured of at least a share of the Little Three title with the game between Wesleyan and Williams on Feb. 3 determining the final outcome. If the Ephs win, Williams and Amherst will share the title. If the Cardinals win, the Mammoths will earn their 29th outright title and first since 2019.
Amherst is back in action on Saturday (Jan. 27), continuing their weekend in Connecticut with a 3 p.m. contest at Trinity, the last remaining unbeaten team in Division III.
GAME HIGHLIGHTS:
* The Mammoths opened the game with a 3-pointer from first-year guard
Marc Garraud on the opening possession. Senior guard
Mohammed Alausa scored a short jumper to give Amherst a 5-0 lead that the Mammoths maintained for the rest of the game.
* The Cardinals got back within one after junior forward Jared Langs hit a jumper with just over 13 minutes to play but Hammond answered for the Mammoths with a three on the next possession. That sequence repeated itself as Langs once again scored in the paint and Hammond followed with a three to put the Mammoths back up by five at 16-11.
* A 9-0 run late in the first half pushed the Amherst lead into double figures. After Randall scored seven straight points, junior guard
C.J. Mitchell came up with a steal and dished to Hammond, who scored in transition to give the Mammoths a 35-23 lead.
* The Mammoths took an 11-point lead into halftime and pushed the lead to 14 on a Garraud three early in the second half before the Cardinals made a late rally.
* The Cardinals used a long 15-5 run midway through the second to get back within one possession when junior guard Nicky Johnson came up with a steal and scored on the fast break to cut the Amherst lead to 59-56 with 3:34 to play.
* After a Hammond free throw restored the lead to four, Randall netted a field goal and a pair of free throws to put the Mammoths up by eight with 54 seconds to play.
* Junior guard Shane Regan hit a 3-pointer for Wesleyan to cut the lead to five with 17 seconds to play but Mitchell then hit a pair of free throws – shooting 6-of-6 from the line in the final minute of the game – and Wesleyan's final shot didn't fall.
BY THE NUMBERS:
* Hammond led all scorers with 23 points and Randall netted a career-high 20 points while also leading the Mammoths with 8 rebounds and 4 assists.
* Regan scored 18 points for the Cardinals and Johnson added 12 points.
* The Mammoths shot 48.0 percent (24-of-50) from the field, including shooting a scorching 53.3 percent (16-of-30) in the first half, while the Cardinals shot 38.9 percent (21-of-54) from the floor. Amherst held a distinct advantage from beyond the arc as well, hitting 9-of-20 shots while Wesleyan shot 4-of-24.
