GENEVA, N.Y.—The Hobart College basketball team earned its sixth straight win with a gritty 77-68 decision over Clarkson University in Bristol Gym today. The Statesmen outscored the Golden Knights 50-30 in the paint led by sophomore
Jackson Meshanic's double-double.
Meshanic was the focal point of Hobart's offense, especially in the first half. Through the opening 20 minutes, he was 9-of-17 shooting and took 20 points into halftime. The rest of the team was 11-of-22 from the floor. In the second half, Meshanic was 4-of-7 and finished the day with a career-high 31 points.
Hobart, which came into the game second in the nation in rebounding margin, won the battle for the boards for the 19th consecutive game. The Statesmen corralled 47 caroms to 35 for the Golden Knights. Meshanic grabbed a game-high 13 boards with senior
Edens Fleurizard adding nine rebounds.
Senior
Tucker Lescoe was the only other Hobart player in double figures, posting 11 points, five assists and a game-high four steals. Sophomore
Dan Masino handed out a game-high six assists.
Clarkson put three players in double digits led by Roburt Welch's 15-point, seven-rebound effort. Chris Hulbert and Ryan Miles-Furguson chipped in 14 points and 13 points, respectively.
Meshanic's monster effort in the first half sent Hobart into halftime with a 48-36 lead.
The Knights barely left the floor at halftime, returning to the court with more than 10 minutes still remaining in halftime. The strategy worked. Hulbert opened the second half scoring with a 3-pointer, launching the visitors on a 13-1 run. Less than four minutes in, Barryn Shark capped the surge with a jumper that tied the game at 49.
Hobart reclaimed the lead on back-to-back buckets by Meshanic, but Clarkson made another push and tied the game again at 55. This time, the Statesmen scored seven unanswered to take the lead for good. First-year
Daniel Cook made a short jumper followed by a 3-pointer by senior
Sam Allen and a layup by Lescoe.
The Knights got within one on a fast break layup by senior Jake Purdy with under eight minutes remaining, but Fleurizard scored the next four points in the game and Hobart was able to maintain at least a two-possession for the rest of the game.
The Statesmen shot 42.6% percent from the field for the game, including 51.3% in the first half, and connected on 83.3% at the free throw line.
Clarkson shot 37.5% from the floor, 41.2% from 3-point range, and 72.2% at the line.
Hobart's weekend sweep of St. Lawrence and Clarkson clinched one of the six spots in the Liberty League Tournament. The Statesmen, who are 18-3 overall, 12-2 in the conference, can finish no lower than fourth in the standings.
Hobart will make its final road trip of the regular season next weekend. The Statesmen will visit league frontrunner Rensselaer Friday, Feb. 14. The Engineers (18-2, 13-0) have won 18 in a row heading into tomorrow's showdown with Ithaca (15-5, 10-3).
Clarkson's four-game road trip continues next Friday at Ithaca. The Golden Knights are 7-14 overall, 5-9 in the conference. They're tied with Vassar and St. Lawrence for sixth place in the league standings.
