Box Score GENEVA, N.Y.—Hobart College senior guard Stefan Thompson scored a game-high 20 points and moved into 11th place on the Statesmen's all-time scoring list, but Buffalo State College put six players in double digits for an 80-74 victory in Bristol Gym tonight.
 
Hobart (1-2) scored the first seven points of the game and used a 12-2 run to build a 10-point lead with Thompson and leading scorer, junior forward Richie Bonney on the bench in foul trouble. First-year forward Cole Smothers and sophomore guard Connor Rehbaum each had four points in the run. The Statesmen led by as many as 11 in the first half, 43-32 on a 3-pointer by first-year guard Eli Lubick with 36 seconds remaining. Hobart took an eight-point lead into the break after junior guard Chris Castren answered with a trey for the Bengals to close out the first half scoring.
 
Hobart led 43-35 at halftime, enjoying a plus-five rebounding margin while shooting 53.1 percent from the floor.
 
In the second half, Buffalo State deployed its press and trap defense more effectively, using a 15-2 run to turn a seven-point deficit (50-43 with 15:39 remaining) into a six-point advantage (58-52 with 8:25 to go). Senior guard Jake Simmons kick-started the surge with one of his game-high four 3-pointers.
 
After a Hobart timeout, back-to-back buckets by Smothers and Thompson made it a 2-point game. The teams traded baskets to make it a 60-58 Bengal lead, but sophomore guard Rodderick Epps converted a layup and senior guard Anthony Hamer dropped in a triple to expand the margin to seven. From there, the visitors went 10-of-14 from the free throw line to keep the Statesmen at arm's length.
 
Hobart shot just 33.3 percent from the floor in the second half. Buffalo State improved its shooting from 42.4 percent to 50 percent. The Bengals were plus five in turnover margin.
 
Thompson was 6-of-11 from the floor and 7-of-8 from the line with five rebounds and five assists. He raised his career scoring total to 1,262 points, passing Michael Gambino '02 to move into 11th place on Hobart's all-time list. Smothers added a season-high 14 points and eight rebounds and Rehbaum chipped in 11 points and six boards. Senior forward Sean Peer grabbed a game-high 11 rebounds.
 
Epps paced the Bengals with 18 points. Senior guard Jake Simmons contributed 16 points and a team-high eight rebounds. Hamer narrowly missed a double-double with 11 points and a game-high nine assists. Sophomore forward Anyar Majak, senior center Seth Runge, and first-year guard Brad Doley each produced 10 points.
 
Hobart will be back in action on Wednesday, Nov. 28, when the Statesmen host a doubleheader in the first round of the Wendy's College Classic. Pairings will be announced on Sunday, Nov. 25.