Box Score GENEVA, N.Y.—Junior guard Joe Virgilio (Wheatley/East Williston, N.Y.) recorded seven of Hobart College’s season-high 13 three-pointers to lead the Statesmen over Liberty League rival St. Lawrence University 96-83 in Division III basketball action this afternoon. Virgilio scored a career-high 27 points on 9-of-10 shooting, including 7-of-8 from long distance.

Hobart (13-8, 8-3 Liberty) opened the game with a 9-2 run and expanded its lead to as many as 13 in the opening stanza, but a 16-5 Saints’ run late in the half closed the gap to 41-39 with two minutes remaining.

Three-pointers by Virgilio and junior guard Adam Frederic (Holy Cross/Flushing, N.Y.) in the next 60 seconds, allowed Hobart to take a 47-42 lead into the locker room.

St. Lawrence (6-17, 4-8) clawed its way back into the contest, whittling Hobart’s lead to just three with 11:04 remaining, but the Statesmen responded with a 10-3 run to push their lead back into double digits and take control of the contest.

The Statesmen, who sank a then season-high 12 three-pointers in a 74-39 win over Clarkson last night, got three more treys from junior guard Colby Feane (Weedsport/Weedsport, N.Y.), who finished with 16 points and eight assists. Sophomores Mike Mastro (Jericho/Westbury, N.Y.) and Mike Manning (Center Moriches/Mastic, N.Y.) chipped in 12 and 11 points respectively.

Senior forward Aaron Marshall (Buffalo Traditional/Buffalo, N.Y.) led four St. Lawrence players in double digits with 24 points.

Hobart’s highest offensive production of the year, coupled with Vassar’s 61-59 win over Skidmore, lifts the Statesmen into first place, one half game ahead of the Thoroughbreds.

Hobart is back in action at 8 p.m., on Feb. 15, at Hamilton.