Box Score GENEVA, N.Y.—Junior guard Stefan Thompson scored a game and season-high 25 points for Hobart, but 24th-ranked Rochester handed the Statesmen their first loss of the season, 72-62, in Bristol Gym today. The Yellowjackets used a 25-6 second half run to break open the game.

An even contest in nearly every way, both teams were 27-of-49 from the floor, rebounds were plus-three in favor of Hobart, and turnovers were plus-two in Rochester's favor. The game turned beyond the 3-point arc where the Yellowjackets went 7-of-12 while the Statesmen were just 2-of-10. Rochester also made five more free throws, but that advantage was skewed by the fact that a trailing Hobart was forced to put the U of R on the line in hopes of mounting a comeback.

Neither team led by more than four points in a first half that featured nine lead changes. Thompson paced all scorers at halftime with 17 points on 8-of-10 shooting with a 3-pointer. His final bucket of the half sent the teams into the locker room knotted at 35-all.

In the early minutes of the second half, the lead changed hands four more times before Rochester's veteran lineup took control. Hobart senior forward Matt Pebole sank a jumper at the 13:42 mark giving the Statesmen a 43-41 lead. The basket temporarily moved him into a tie for ninth place on Hobart's career scoring list with Carmen Genovese '70. Pebole finished the game with 10 points, four a head of the Hall of Famer.

Marcus Williams netted back-to-back shots, the second a put-back-dunk, kick starting 10-0 run. Rochester continued to dominate over the next eight minutes, pulling away with a 25-6 run. Hobart (6-1) fought back to within seven twice in the final 67 seconds, but got no closer as the Yellowjackets made 6-of-8 from the line in the final two minutes to hang on for the win.

Sophomore guard Joe Gibbons joined Thompson and Pebole in double digits with 13 points.

DiBartolomeo led Rochester with 18 points and a game-high six steals. Chris Dende added 16 points and Nate Novosel chipped in 13.

The Statesmen will be back in action on Jan. 2, when they face Drew in the first round of the Franklin & Marshall tournament.