PITTSBURGH—Junior Matt Walsh erupted for a career-high 24 points to lead the Hobart College basketball team to an 89-75 non-conference win at Carnegie Mellon University this afternoon. The Statesmen improved to 4-2 on the year while dropping the Tartans to 3-5.
 
Walsh made 8-of-9 field goals. He came into the game with four 3-pointers on the season and surpassed that total today. Playing in his home state, Walsh was a perfect 5-for-5 from beyond the arc against CMU. He was joined in double figures by four of his teammates. Junior Colin Dougherty added 14 points and game-highs of six assists and three steals, sophomore Tucker Lescoe chipped in 13 points, first-year Dan Masino had 11 points and junior Jamal Lucas score 10 points.
 
The Statesmen shot a season-high 53 percent from the field, making 11-of-21 from deep, and 67 percent at the free throw line. Hobart also had a 45-35 rebounding advantage. Dougherty, Masino and sophomore Edens Fleurizard shared game-high honors with seven boards apiece.
 
Carnegie Mellon had four players in double digits led by Ryan Maha's 18 points. Colin McNeil contributed 16 points, seven rebounds, five assists and three steals.
 
After shooting 44 percent from the floor in the first half, the Tartans were held to 33 percent shooting after the break. The home team made 7-of-13 from long range in the opening 20 minutes, but just 3-of-12 after the intermission.
 
CMU scored the game's opening basket, a 3-pointer from Daniel Weiss, and led for most of the first half. However, Hobart took a 47-42 lead into halftime. The Statesmen seized the lead with a 13-4 run late in the half that turned a two-point deficit into a seven-point lead. Walsh and Lucas both had four points to lead the charge.
 
Early in the second half, Weiss tied the game with another 3-pointer. Just past the midway point of the half, the Tartans briefly took the lead on a free throw by McNeil. But, about a minute later, Dougherty sank a pair of the charity stripe to wipe out CMU's slim 63-62 advantage. Lucas followed with a layup for a 3-point Hobart lead.
 
The Tartans fought back to tie the game for the 10th and final time, knotting the contest at 68 with under seven minutes remaining. Hobart responded to the challenge with an 11-1 run. First-year Jack Lesure put the Statesmen ahead for good with a layup, followed by a 3-pointer by Walsh. McNeil made a free throw for CMU's point, but Walsh knocked down two more triples to stretch the Hobart lead to 79-69 with just under three minutes to go. The Tartans trailed by at least eight points and as many as 14 down the stretch.
 
Following finals week, Hobart will return to the court on Sunday, Dec. 17. The Statesmen will travel to Utica to face SUNY Poly (4-3) at 2 p.m.