GENEVA, N.Y.—The Hobart College basketball team won its home opener tonight, defeating No. 22 Baldwin Wallace University 68-56 in Bristol Gym. Sophomore guard Dan Masino posted game-highs of 22 points and 11 rebounds to pace the Statesmen.
 
Hobart (2-1) shot 49 percent from the floor and 73 percent at the free throw line, while holding a 39-31 rebounding advantage. Masino enjoyed a big second half, making 5-of-9 shots from the floor with a 3-pointer and 7-of-7 at the line for 18 points. He was at his best in closeout time, scoring Hobart's final 11 points of the game over the final three minutes of the contest. Masino was 7-of-14 shooting for the game. First-year forward Daniel Cook added 14 points and senior guard Tucker Lescoe scored eight points, including a pair of clutch 3-pointers in the second half. Senior forward Edens Fleurizard chipped in six points and eight rebounds.
 
The defending OAC championships slipped to 2-2 on the season after shooting 31 percent from the floor, including 9-of-37 from 3-point range. Senior guard Michael Quiring was the only Yellow Jacket to reach double digits, scoring 14 points with three 3-pointers. Senior forwards Tyler Colombo and Drew Sova grabbed seven rebounds apiece.
 
Hobart took a 26-19 lead into halftime thanks in large part to a 15-2 run over an eight-minute span. Cook scored seven of his 14 points during the surge, while the Statesmen defense harassed the BWU shooters into a 1-of-11 effort, including 0-for-7 from deep. The run turned a five-point lead for the visitors into an eight-point advantage for the home team.
 
The Yellow Jackets hit a 3-pointer to open the second half scoring and clawed their way back into the game, tying the score at 41 on a 3-pointer by Quiring. Just over a minute later, Hobart was clinging to a one-point lead, 46-45, but found another gear. The Statesmen outscored Baldwin Wallace 20-5 over the next seven and a half minutes with Masino supplying 11 points. The run started and ended with buckets by Masino and gave Hobart a 66-50 lead with under a minute to go.
 
The Statesmen will return to action in Bristol Gym, at 8 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 26, when the University of Rochester comes to town.