Box Score GENEVA, N.Y.—The Hobart basketball team ran into a hot-shooting Hamilton squad in its Liberty League opener tonight in Bristol Gym. The visiting Continentals shot 56.5 percent from the floor on their way to a 71-51 victory.

The Statesmen (3-9, 0-1) had three players reach double digits in the scoring column, led by first-year forward Matt Pebole's (Red Bank/Little Silver, N.J.) 12 points. Sophomore guard Rob Estep (West York/York, Pa.) bounced back from first half foul trouble to record 11 points, while sophomore forward Adam Salzmann (Kingston/Connelly, N.Y.) chipped in 10 points and shared game-high honors with seven rebounds.

Hamilton (6-4, 1-0) also had three hit double figures, paced by first-year guard Ephraim McDowell's (Beaver Country Day School/Boston, Mass.) 20 points, which included five threes. Senior forward Harlee Wood (Bishop McNamara/Clinton, Md.) added 16 points and seven boards, while junior guard Jay Simpson (St. John's College/Fort Washington, Md.) finished with 10 points and a game-high six assists.

The Continentals shot 54.5 percent from the floor in the first half and committed just five fouls, easing away from the Statesmen for a 30-20 halftime lead.

Wood's layup at the 16:59 mark of the second half, ballooned the Hamilton lead to 37-22. Salzmann countered with a three at the other end of the floor, sparking a 10-0 Hobart run that trimmed the deficit to just five with 15:03 to go. McDowell hit a three to end the run and the Continentals put the game out of reach with a 17-4 run a short time later.

Hobart is back in action on Jan. 16, when the Statesmen host Rensselaer. Tipoff in Bristol Gym is scheduled for 8 p.m.