WASHINGTON, D.C.—Sophomore guard
Dan Masino erupted for a career-high 25 points to lead the Hobart College basketball team to victory in its first game of the New Year. The Statesmen sank a season-high 14 3-pointers in a 77-53 win over Ursinus College in the semifinals of the Holiday Inn Washington College Park Tournament hosted by Catholic University.
Masino was 7-of-14 from the floor, including 4-of-7 from deep, and made all seven of his free throws. He also contributed five rebounds, five assists and three steals. First-year
Andrew Lynch also had a big night, finishing with a season-high 17 points. He knocked down 5-of-7 from beyond the arc. Senior
Tucker Lescoe made a bid for a triple-double, recording nine points, nine assists and seven rebounds.
Senior
Edens Fleurizard pace the Statesmen (8-1) on the glass. He grabbed a game-high 10 rebounds, leading Hobart to a 51-37 advantage for the game.
George Gordon led the Bears with 11 points and seven rebounds. Ryan Hughes also had 11 points. Bruce Edwards added six points, six rebounds and six blocked shots. Ursinus was limited to just 30.6 percent shooting from the field and didn't fare much better at the free throw line, making just 8-of-21 (.381).
A tightly contested first half turned in the final five minutes. Bruce made a pair of free throws to give the Bears a 25-22 lead. Lynch hit his first 3-pointer of the day to tie the game with just under five minutes until halftime. About a minute later, Masino made a steal and fast-break layup to put Hobart in the lead for good. Lynch followed with back-to-back 3-pointers, stretching the lead to 33-25. First-year
Daniel Cook capped off the 13-0 run with a layup with about two and a half minutes left in the half.
The teams went scoreless the rest of the way, sending the Statesmen into the locker room with a 35-25 lead. Lynch had a game-high nine points in the opening 20 minutes.
Ursinus (6-4) was able to trim its deficit down to four on a traditional 3-point play by Gordon, but Hobart ripped off the game's next 12 points to blow the game open. Fleurizard bookended the run with layups while Masino and Lynch both drained 3-pointers.
Hobart, which has won seven in a row, will play the host Cardinals (4-7) in Sunday's championship game at 7 p.m. Catholic defeated Manhattanville 67-50 in the tournament's first semifinal.
