TROY, N.Y.—It was a defensive struggle for first place in the Liberty League men's basketball standings tonight. In the end, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute made more free throws than Hobart College attempted and enjoyed a 22-2 advantage in points off turnovers to post a 58-54 victory.
 
RPI didn't take its first lead in the game until under three minutes remained, but the Engineers didn't allow the Statesmen to get too far in front. Hobart led by as many as nine, taking a 32-23 lead on a traditional 3-point play by first-year Daniel Cook nine seconds before halftime. Cook's second double-double of the season came on game-highs of 16 points and 11 rebounds.
 
Dom Black beat the buzzer with his layup to send Rensselaer into the break trailing by seven. He led the Engineers with 14 points and seven rebounds.
 
The Statesmen led 41-36 with about 12 minutes remaining thanks to a jumper by sophomore Dan Masino. He finished with 13 points.
 
Over the next four minutes, the teams went a combined 0-for-8 from the field and didn't score a point. RPI snapped the scoreless streak on a 3-pointer by Jonny Angbazo. A minute later, Hobart returned to the scoring column when Edens Fleurizard sank two shots at the free throw line. Fleurizard had 10 points and seven boards.
 
In the final six minutes of the game, neither side led by more than three points until Mason Memmelaar iced the win with two free throws with just a second remaining. He notched 13 points and seven boards on the night.
 
The Engineers grabbed their first lead of the game on a steal by Memmelaar that led to a fastbreak layup and one by Black. Cook put the Statesmen back in front with his second 3-pointer of the night.
 
With just under a minute to go, Will Rubin's layup swung the advantage back to the home team, 54-53.
 
Masino drew a foul with 21 seconds left and made 1-of-2 to tie the game for the final time. On RPI's ensuing possession, Rubin used a pump fake on the perimeter to get his defender in the air, drawing a foul. He made both free throws to make it a 56-54 game with 2.7 seconds left. Rubin had 13 points, including a 6-for-6 effort at the line.
 
Hobart's length of the court inbounds pass deflected out of bounds off a Statesman, leading to Memmelaar's clinching free throws.
 
Hobart shot 40.4% from the floor and held RPI to 33.9% shooting. The Statesmen also enjoyed a 42-30 rebounding advantage.
 
The Engineers went 16-of-21 at the free throw line while Hobart was 11-of-15. RPI committed just four turnovers while the Statesmen had 18.
 
Hobart (18-4, 12-3) slips into a tie for second place in the league standings with Ithaca (17-5, 12-3). The Statesmen and Bombers are two games behind the Engineers (19-3, 14-1) with three games remaining in the regular season.
 
Hobart will return to action at 4 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 15, visiting Vassar (10-12, 6-9). The Brewers are tied with St. Lawrence and Skidmore for fifth place. The top six teams make the Liberty League Tournament.
 
RPI hosts RIT (8-14, 5-10) on Saturday.