ITHACA, N.Y.—The Hobart College basketball team handed Ithaca College its first Liberty League loss of the season 91-81 in Ben Light Gymnasium this afternoon. Sophomore Tucker Lescoe and junior Colin Dougherty combined for 45 points to lead the Statesmen.
 
Lescoe produced a season-high 25 points, including a season-high six 3-pointers, while sinking all five of his free throw attempts. Dougherty added 20 points and team-highs of four assists and three steals. In all, Hobart put five players in double digits as junior Jamal Lucas scored 14 points and junior Matt Walsh and first-year Dan Masino each finished with 12 points.
 
The Statesmen (8-3, 3-1) used a balanced effort on the glass to post a 44-29 rebounding advantage. Lucas led the way with eight caroms. Sophomore Edens Fleurizard grabbed seven boards.
 
Ithaca (8-3, 3-1) got a team-high 18 points from Cooper Macklin, who made all five of his 3-point tries. Marc Chasin chipped in 13 points and a game-high seven rebounds. Miles Herman, Peter Ezema, and Carroll Rich each logged 10 points. Ezema also grabbed a game-high 11 boards.
 
While the Bombers shot better than the Statesmen at the free throw line (.857 to .722), Hobart earned nearly three times as many trips to the stripe, converting 26-of-36 freebies compared to just 12-of-14 for the home team.
 
The Statesmen seized control of the game early in the first half, scoring 12 straight points in a three-minute span. Dougherty and Lescoe opened the run with back-to-back 3-pointers and then Dougherty threw down a dunk. After a Lucas layup, Masino made two free throws to give Hobart a 19-9 lead. The Statesmen added to their lead with a 16-5 run later in the half and went into halftime with a 46-39 advantage.
 
Ithaca clawed its way back into the game, scoring 10 straight points to tie the game at 60 with under 13 minutes remaining. Hobart countered with a 12-2 run that turned the momentum back in their favor, 72-62. The Bombers made one last push, closing to within six, but Lescoe quelled the threat with the visitor's 11th 3-pointer of the night. From that point on, the Statesmen led by at least seven on their way to their third straight league win.
 
Hobart will wrap up its 10-game road trip at 8 p.m. on Tuesday, Jan. 9, when the Statesmen visit Rensselaer (7-4, 2-2).