PITTSFORD, N.Y.—St. John Fisher College used a late scoring run to hold off Hobart College 74-61 in non-conference men's basketball action tonight.
 
The Statesmen got a team-high 13 points from guard Aidan Rodgers. Guard Jack Lesure added 12 points, seven rebounds and a team-high four assists. Forward Jackson Meshanic scored 10 points. Forward Carter Meshanic chipped in eight points and seven boards.
 
The Cardinals (5-2) also had three players in double figures paced by Brendan Trapper's game-high 22 points.
 
The opening 20 minutes were tightly contested, with the Cardinals playing with the lead for most of the session. Late in the first half, Statesman Andrew Lynch sank a 3-pointer to pull the visitors within three, but Trapper and Matt Lettko hit back-to-back triples, giving Fisher its largest lead of the half, 39-30. Hobart didn't make another field goal in the half, but trimmed its deficit to five by halftime thanks to a 4-for-4 effort at the free throw line.
 
Despite the late shooting drought, the Statesmen made 43.5% from the floor with four 3-pointers in the first half, but the Cardinals shot 59.3% and made five from distance. St. John Fisher committed three fewer turnovers and enjoyed an 18-5 advantage in points off turnovers.
 
Hobart featured a balanced scoring effort in the first half. Jackson Meshanic led nine Statesmen scorers with seven points in the opening 20 minutes. St. John Fisher's offensive efforts were concentrated around Trapper and Lettko who combined for 25 points on 10-of-15 shooting, including five 3-pointers.
 
In the second half, Hobart was never able to regain the lead. Each time the Statesmen would make a run to close the gap, the Cardinals would answer and push their advantage back to two or three possessions. Trailing 49-40 with 12 minutes remaining, Hobart clawed its way back with a 15-7 run over the next five minutes. Rodgers powered the comeback efforts with eight points, including a pair of 3-pointers. His second trey made it a 56-55 game with 6:49 to go.
 
Lettko answered with a three of his own at the other end of the floor for a four-point Fisher edge. Just under the six minute mark, Carter Meshanic converted a layup to get the Statesmen within two, but a 12-0 Cardinal run over the next four minutes put the game away.
 
The Statesmen (3-4) begin Liberty League play Friday, Dec. 3, when they travel to Rensselaer (4-0) for an 8 p.m. tipoff.