BROCKPORT, N.Y.—The Roberts Wesleyan College basketball team led by as many as 18 points in the first half, but had to hold off a late charge by Hobart College to give the Statesmen their first loss of the season, 67-60, in the opening round of the 49th annual Wendy's College Classic.
 
Hobart senior Connor Rehbaum scored 18 points and matched his career-high with a game-high 13 rebounds. Senior Andrew Hoy also netted 18 points. Senior Trey Blanding added eight points and a team-high five assists. The Statesmen shot 37 percent from the floor, 35 percent from 3-point range, and 75 percent at the free throw line.
 
The Redhawks' Isaac Medeiros scored a game-high 19 points. Tyrel Dixon and Jordan McBride added 17 and 10 points, respectively. Kevin Madiamba grabbed a team-high 11 rebounds to go with eight points. The quartet shot 22-for-34 (.647) from the floor. The rest of the team was 5-for-20. RWC shot 40 percent from behind the arc and 53 percent at the line.
 
Roberts (2-2) started the game on a 9-2 run. After a 3-pointer by sophomore Thomas Campion got Hobart within two, the Redhawks rattled off 12 straight points to stretch their advantage to 21-7. Madiamba threw down a dunk on a fastbreak 3:38 left in the opening half to give Roberts Wesleyan its largest lead of the game, 32-14. The Redhawks took a 37-24 lead into halftime.
 
Hobart (2-1) opened the second half on an 11-2 run, getting within four on a Rehbaum 3-pointer at the 16:21 mark. After RWC pushed its edge back to seven, Campion hit a 3 and Rehbaum came up with a steal that led to a basket by Hoy to make it a 46-44 game with 8:50 remaining. It was still a 2-point game a minute later, but then Roberts got back-to-back baskets and kept Hobart at arm's length down the stretch.
 
The Statesmen will face Brockport in the second round of the Wendy's College Classic on Friday, Dec. 5, at 8 p.m. at Rochester's Palestra.