Middlebury's Alex Sobel finished with 28 points and a career-high 21 rebounds, as the Panthers extended their winning streak to nine with a 67-59 NESCAC victory over visiting Hamilton on Saturday. Middlebury (11-2, 2-0) continues conference play on Friday with a 7:00 p.m. road contest at Colby, while the Continentals (6-6, 0-2) are home on Tuesday at 3:30 p.m. for a non-conference match-up with Ithaca.

The game was tight throughout most of the first half, with neither team ahead by more than four points in the opening 10 minutes. Hamilton led 13-9 on a bucket by Patrick Mogan with 12:49 on the clock, before the Panthers took the lead for good at 16-15 on a free throw by Noah Osher. A three by Liam Regan closed the Continentals to 28-23 with just over three minutes left in the frame, but Middlebury's defense kept Hamilton off the scoreboard the rest of the half. Sobel had a pair of field goals and a free throw to put the hosts in front 33-23 at the break.

The teams went scoreless for the first 2:40 of the second period, before the visitors closed the margin to 44-38. Eric Anderson sank a pull-up jumper with 9:20 on the clock in what turned out to be as close as the Continentals would get the rest of the way. Middlebury took its biggest lead of the game in the final minute of the contest when Jaden Bobbett hit from the foul line with 12 seconds left. The Panthers converted 6-8 from the charity stripe in the final minute to secure the 67-59 win.

Sobel shot 8-19 from the floor and 12-18 from the free-throw line, while his 21 rebounds tie him with Dylan Sinnickson for the fourth-best single-game total in program history. It was also his ninth double-double in 13 games. Sam Stevens added to the win with 17 points, including four three-pointers, while Osher chipped in with 11 points and five boards.

For Hamilton, Hank Morgan led the team with 14 points, while Anderson record a double-double with 12 points and 12 rebounds. Mogan also tallied 12 points, six rebounds and three blocked shots.

Middlebury shot 33.3 percent (20-60) from the floor, while Hamilton was at 36.9 percent (24-65). The Panthers had a 46-32 rebounding advantage.