GENEVA, N.Y.—The Hobart College basketball team's 12th straight win featured a smothering defensive effort in a 67-48 win over Clarkson University. The Statesmen limited the Golden Knights to a season-low 24.1 field goal percentage, a season-low 21.2 3-point field goal percentage and a season-low scoring total.
 
Hobart (18-3, 13-1) shot 40.4 percent from the floor, 35 percent from 3-point range and 81.8 percent at the free throw line. The Statesmen outrebounded CU 43-35 and committed two fewer turnovers (16-18). Junior Jamal Lucas led the way with a game-high 17 points. First-year Dan Masino and junior Colin Dougherty added 13 points and 12 points, respectively.
 
First-year Jason Phelps led Clarkson (9-11, 5-8) with nine points off the bench.
 
Hobart never trailed in the contest, scoring the first nine points of the contest. Sophomore Tucker Lescoe and Lucas accounted for all of the Statesmen's early points with the former making back-to-back baskets to start the game and the latter following with a 3-pointer and a jumper.
 
Junior Liam Ellis got the Golden Knights on the board with a pair of free throw, but Dougherty hit a 3-pointer at the other end of the floor for a 10-point Hobart lead. Phelps connected from beyond the arc to make it a 7-point game, but the Statesmen scored the game's next five points and 12 of the next 13 to push their lead into double digits for good.
 
Hobart led 38-19 at halftime. The Golden Knights made just 4-of-26 field goal attempts in the opening 20 minutes. The Statesmen sank 11-of-27 and padded their lead with a 14-of-18 effort at the free throw line, making more first half free throws than Clarkson attempted (11).
 
Hobart led by as many as 26 points in the second half and cruised to its 18th win of the season. Only five teams in Statesmen history have won more than 18 games in a season.
 
With four games remaining in the regular season, Hobart is four games ahead of second place Union in the loss column.
 
The Statesmen will make their final road trip of the regular season next weekend. Hobart visits Skidmore (11-8, 7-6) on Friday, Feb. 9. Tipoff is set for 8 p.m.