CU Men's Basketball Preview - at Hamilton Invitational (11/26-27)

Thanksgiving break proved to be but a respite for the Clarkson University Men's Basketball team as the Golden Knights will be back in action this weekend when they travel to compete in the Hamilton Invitational.

The Golden Knights will take on host Hamilton College at 5:00 pm on Saturday and will then take on either Colby College or Oswego State, a familiar foe, on Sunday afternoon.

Clarkson dropped a 72-71 overtime decision to Oswego State on Tuesday to fall to 2-2 on the season, making the Knights the only team without a winning record in the tournament. That doesn't make them any less formidable as a trio of seniors have started off well through four games. Derek Hart tossed in a career-high 28 points against the Lakers and is averaging 20.8 points per game with a field goal percentage of 58.5. Drew Zlogar is fourth in the conference in rebounding at 8.3 per game and a solid scoring effort against Oswego jumped his average to 12.3 points per contest. Conrad Zampier is also averaging 11.8 points and 5.3 boards per game. Producing quality minutes off the bench, sophomore Matthew Hornak is tossing in 5.8 points per game, almost entirely coming from his 7-for-9 shooting from beyond the arc.

Hamilton (2-1) leans heavily on its underclassmen as the top four scorers on the team are all sophomores or freshmen. Tim Doyle is averaging 20.0 points per game in just 24 minutes per contest, and makes the most of his shots by shooting 67.7% from the field and 58.8% from beyond the 3-point arc. Peter Hoffmann is also shooting 50.0% from the floor and averaging 14.0 points per game while first-year collegian Kena Gilmour is shooting 54.2% and averaging 10.3 ppg in just 15 minutes per contest. Michael Grassey is averaging just short of a double-double with 9.7 points and 8.3 rebounds per game.

Colby College (3-0) has yet to be challenged this season and has a foursome of starters averaging double figures so far. Senior Patrick Stewart has scored at least 15 points in all three games so far, averaging 17.7 points and 6.3 rebounds per game. Sophomore Max Steiner has contributed double figures in points in all three games for the Mules as well, and has produced 11.7 points, 6.3 rebounds and 2.3 assists per game, though 14 of his 19 rebounds on the season came in just one game. Freshman Sean Gilmore (10.7 ppg) and senior Joe Connelly (10.3 ppg) have both scored steadily this season, too.

It's possible that just four days after needing overtime to decide the outcome that Oswego State (3-1) and Clarkson could meet up again. The Lakers are led by Brian Sortino (17.8 points, 4.3 assists per game), but it was Jamir Ferebee and Mykelle Krecko that enjoyed big games against the Knights on Tuesday. Ferebee is averaging 11.3 points in just 19.7 minutes per game, while Krecko is averaging a double-double with 10.5 points and 11.5 rebounds per contest, as well as nearly four blocks per game. Ian Schupp (12.0 ppg) and Keith Tyson (9.0 ppg, 8.8 rpg) are also lending a hand in Oswego's early success.

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Players Mentioned

#42 Derek Hart: F; 6' 7"; Senior

#20 Matthew Hornak: F; 6' 3"; Sophomore

#23 Conrad Zampier: G; 6' 1"; Senior

#21 Drew Zlogar: F; 6' 6"; Senior

Players Mentioned

#42 Derek Hart
: 6' 7"; Senior
: F

#20 Matthew Hornak
: 6' 3"; Sophomore
: F

#23 Conrad Zampier
: 6' 1"; Senior
: G

#21 Drew Zlogar
: 6' 6"; Senior
: F