Box Score TROY, N.Y.—The Hobart College basketball team got twin 22-point efforts from junior guard Stefan Thompson and sophomore guard Joe Gibbons, but suffered its first loss in Liberty League play. Rensselaer got a game-high 27 points from Matthew Pooley to post an 87-81 victory at the East Campus Arena.

Thompson went 14-of-16 from the free throw line and moved from 24th on Hobart's career scoring list to 19th. A transfer from Rensselaer, Gibbons was 10-of-12 from the floor and 2-for-2 from the line. Sophomore guard Rezin Davis added a season-high 16 points, while sophomore forward Richie Bonney netted 11 points. Senior forward Matt Pebole narrowly missed a double-double with nine points and a game-high 11 rebounds.

Pooley was 11-of-18 from the floor with four 3-pointers. He was joined in double digits by Daniel Martin and Redon Qello who pitched in 13 and 12 points, respectively.

The Statesmen (13-3, 6-1) led by as many as 10 points in the first half, but the Engineers scored nine unanswered points to wipe out most of that lead and then closed out the first half on an 11-6 run for a 47-39 lead at the half.

A Pooley three midway through the second half, gave the hosts a 13 point lead, which grew to 15 on a jumper by Pooley
with 6:52 to go. The Statesmen then ran off seven straight points to draw within 74-66.

After free throws from Matt Dixon and Jamie Zajac extended the RPI lead to 79-70, Davis, Gibbons, and Thompson each contributed a pair of points to a 6-0 run, to pull to within three, 79-76.

That was as close as the Statesmen got as the Engineers (8-9, 5-4) were able to hit their free throws down the stretch to secure the win.

Rensselaer shot 49.2 percent from the floor and sank 10-of-26 3-point attempts. Hobart shots just 42.4 percent from the field and was 2-of-13 from long range. The Statesmen held a 43-34 advantage on the glass, but committed a season-high 22 turnovers. The Engineers also relied on their depth, getting 33 points from their bench compared to just one for Hobart.

The Statesmen will be back in action on at 4 p.m. on Saturday, Jan. 28, when they visit Skidmore.