GENEVA, N.Y.—Hobart College senior Jamal Lucas scored a game-high 16 points as the Statesmen defeated Liberty League rival Rochester Institute of Technology 71-62 in Bristol Gym tonight. The guard missed four games last month due to a leg injury, but showed little sign of rust, making 6-of-10 from the floor and 4-for-4 at the free throw line.
 
Lucas scored eight points in each half, made a game-high three steals and handed out three assists. He was joined in double figures by senior Colin Dougherty, junior Edens Fleurizard and first-year Jackson Meshanic. Dougherty produced 15 points. Fleurizard scored 12 points, grabbed seven rebounds, and blocked three shots. Meshanic narrowly missed his first collegiate double-double, logging 10 points and a game-high nine rebounds.
 
Hobart (5-5, 2-1 LL) matched its season-high with 42 rebounds, eight more than the Tigers (3-7, 0-3) collected. The Statesmen also committed seven fewer turnovers (9-16).
 
RIT junior Will Atkinson was 4-of-7 from beyond the 3-point arc on his way to a team-high 14 points. Junior Charles Okehie was the only other Tiger in double digits, scoring 10 points.
 
The game turned on an 11-point burst by the Statesmen midway through the second half. Protecting a two-point lead with 10 minutes remaining, Hobart held the Tigers scoreless for almost four minutes while expanding its advantage to 13. Lucas scored four points in the run and senior Sean McKinless added a 3-pointer. Meshanic and junior Tucker Lescoe added two points apiece.
 
The Statesmen led for over 36 minutes in the game and trailed for less than a minute and never by more than a single point. Hobart shot 44 percent from the floor while limiting RIT to 38 percent shooting. The Statesmen also made three times as many free throws as the Tigers attempted (12-4). RIT was able to hang close by making 13 3-pointers, 10 more than the Statesmen.
 
Hobart will be back in action on Saturday, Jan. 5, when the Statesmen host Ithaca. Tipoff is scheduled for 4 p.m.