GENEVA, N.Y.—Hobart College junior Jamal Lucas scored a career-high 30 points and grabbed a team-high 10 rebounds to lead the Statesmen to an 89-74 Liberty League win over Skidmore College. Hobart's fifth straight victory, coupled with Ithaca's 85-72 loss at Clarkson, leaves the Statesmen alone atop the Liberty League standings.
 
Lucas was 11-of-22 from the floor and 8-of-9 at the free throw line. He also recorded a game-high four steals and three assists. Junior Colin Dougherty added 19 points, including 15 after halftime, and three assists. First-year Dan Masino drained four 3-pointers on his way to a 16-point, three-assist game. Sophomore Tucker Lescoe produced all of his 12 points from beyond the arc and added three assists as well.
 
Skidmore was led by junior Edvinus Rupkus' 23 points and three assists. First-year Noah Meren and junior Dakpe Yiljep both logged double-doubles. Meren had 21 points and 11 rebounds and Yiljep notched 17 points and 11 boards.
 
Meren made a short jumper in the lane to give Skidmore its only lead of the afternoon, 6-5. Hobart (11-3, 6-1 LL) rattled off the next 13 points to build an 18-6 lead. Masino made a pair of 3-pointers and Dougherty threw down a breakaway dunk during the run.
 
The Thoroughbreds (9-4, 5-2) cut their deficit in half with back-to-back 3-pointers by junior Jack Byrne and Rupkus, but Hobart blew the game wide open with the next 15 points. Junior Sean McKinless ignited the run with a four-point play. Lescoe sandwiched 3-pointers around a traditional 3-point play by Lucas to make it 33-14. Dougherty put the finishing touch on the surge with a pair of free throws.
 
Skidmore fought back to within 13 on an old fashion 3-point play by Yiljep Dakpe with less than three minutes left in the first half, but Hobart ended the frame on a 7-3 run to take a 50-33 lead into the break.
 
The Statesmen made eight of their 11 3-pointers in the game during the first half. Lucas led all scorers at the intermission with 17, three more than Masino. Hobart shot 50 percent from the floor in the first 20 minutes, sinking 8-of-19 3-pointers and 8-of-9 at the free throw line.
 
The Statesmen maintained a double digit lead throughout the second half, never letting their advantage dip below 13.
 
After playing its first two home games in nearly two months, Hobart will head back out on the road. The Statesmen return to action on Friday, Jan. 19, at Clarkson (6-8, 2-5). Tipoff is set for 8 p.m. Skidmore will also play on Friday at 8 p.m., traveling to Bard (4-9, 2-4).