Box Score KINGS POINT, N.Y.—The Hobart basketball team rallied from an 18-point second half deficit to force overtime, but the host Merchant Marine Mariners regained their composure for an 83-79 victory in the championship game of the Kings Point Alumni Holiday Tournament. The Mariners won for the sixth straight time to improve to 9-2, while the Statesmen lost their first road game of the season to slip to 5-4.

Both teams shot very well. Hobart connected on 50 percent of its shots from the floor, including 11-of-24 from long range, and 88.9 percent from the line. Merchant Marine converted 55.1 percent from the field (9-of-16 on threes) and 76.9 percent from the line.

Stefan Thompson led Hobart with a season-high 26 points on 6-of-10 shooting, including a pair of threes, and a perfect 12-for-12 from the line. The All-Tournament Team selection also dished out a season-high five assists. Matt Pebole and Tim Llewellyn added 17 points apiece for the Statesmen. Pebole led Hobart to a 26-24 advantage on the glass with a team-high five rebounds.

Tournament MVP Ryan Samuel paced the Mariners with 21 points and a game-high six assists. Fellow All-Tournament pick Jon Snead added 16 points and a game-high seven rebounds. Tom Izzo, Matt Hueber, and Kevin Kerr added 14, 11, and 11 points, respectively.

Trailing 60-42 with 12:47 remaining in the second half, Hobart outscored its host 27-9 over a 10-minute span, tying the game at 69-all on a layup by Thompson. Samuel hit a three to put the home team back in front 25 seconds later. Thompson's layup with 71 seconds to go made it a one-point game.

Snead made one of two at the line with 26 ticks to go to put Merchant Marine up 73-71. Twelve seconds later, Thompson earned a trip to the line and sank both to tie the game. The Mariners took a shot at the buzzer, but it was off target.

In the extra session, Hobart was undone by turnovers. Merchant Marine scored six of its 10 points following Statesmen turnovers. The first giveaway prevented the Statesmen from adding to a two-point lead, and instead, allowed the Mariners to tie the game at 77 with 61 seconds to go.

The second turnover allowed Merchant Marine to add to a two-point lead, upping its advantage to 81-77. Thompson made two free throws with 18 seconds left to make it a two-point game, 81-79. Hobart fouled right away and the Mariners missed both freebies, but the Statesmen lost their chance to tie with their 18th turnover of the day.

In the first half, Merchant Marine opened up a 13-point lead with a 16-2 run and carried a 41-30 lead into the locker room at halftime.

Hobart will be back in action at 7 p.m. on Jan. 5, when the Statesmen host Buffalo State. The game will air live on WHWS-FM (105.7). Fans outside the Geneva area can follow all of the action online with streaming video and Live Stats.