ASHLAND, Va.—Junior Colin Dougherty's layup with less than two minutes remaining, broke a 77-all tie and sparked a 7-2 finishing run as the Hobart College basketball team defeated Rowan University 84-79 in the first game of the Randolph-Macon College Kay Jewelers Tournament.
 
The Statesmen (6-2) picked up their fourth straight win and had five players finish in double figures. Junior Jamal Lucas led the way with 19 points and a game-high 10 rebounds. Dougherty added 17 points, six rebounds, three assists and three steals. Sophomore Tucker Lescoe made three 3-pointers and closed the night with 15 points and four assists. Junior Matt Walsh chipped in 13 points and first-year Dan Masino had 12 points, eight rebounds and four assists.
 
The Profs (6-5) lost for the fourth time in their past five games. Junior Nick DePersia led four Rowan players with a game-high 22 points, including five 3-pointers. Senior TJ Booth had 15 points, junior Daron Curry 12 points and Ramon Wright 11 points as well as a team-high seven rebounds.
 
Hobart dominated the glass, collecting a season-high 52 rebounds to the Profs 34. The board work allowed the Statesmen to overcome 20 turnovers. Oddly, it marked the third time this season Hobart has committed 20 or more turnovers and the Statesmen are 3-0 in those contests.
 
Rowan's first four baskets of the night came from beyond the 3-point arc, including three triples by DePersia for a 12-7 lead less than four minutes into the game. From that point to halftime, the Statesmen held the Profs to 9-of-31 shooting. Meanwhile, Hobart shot 55 percent from the floor in the opening 20 minutes, going into the locker room with a 48-31 lead, the largest advantage of the game for either side.
 
Lucas and Dougherty were the leading scorers at break with 11 points apiece.
 
Rowan came out of the locker room with a renewed determination and used a 26-5 run to claim a 57-53 lead. DePersia scored produced 13 points during the surge. Hobart pushed back into the lead with eight straight points, taking a 61-57 lead with about 10 and a half minutes remaining.
 
Over the next eight minutes, the score was tied three times with the Statesmen reclaiming the lead each time the Profs pulled even. DePersia tied the game at 77 with a layup with under two and a half minutes left. Curry answered with a steal and Rowan had two shots to claim the lead, but missed both. When Walsh secured the rebound after the second, Hobart called timeout. After the break, Dougherty drove to the rim and scored on a finger roll that put his team in the lead for good.
 
Masino closed out the victory at the free throw line, making 5-of-6 down the stretch.
 
The Statesmen will play the host Yellow Jackets (7-3) in the tournament championship at 4 p.m. on Saturday, Dec. 30. Randolph-Macon defeated Frostburg State in the second game of the tournament 72-60.