TROY, N.Y.—A timely run at the end of the first half and a strong performance at the free throw line carried nationally-ranked Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute to a 75-64 win over Hobart College tonight.
Aidan Rodgers led the Statesmen with a season-high 15 points.
Hobart's
Andrew Lynch sank a 3-pointer with 6:21 remaining in the first half, cutting RPI's lead to 23-21. However, the Engineers responded with a 14-4 scoring run to carry a 37-25 lead into halftime. Dom Black and Patrick Mahoney closed out the first half scoring with back-to-back 3-pointers.
Mahoney scored a game-high eight points in the opening 20 minutes and finished the night with 12 points.
The Statesmen trailed by as many as 15 in the second half, but managed to whittle that down to six with under nine minutes remaining.
Pat Healy started a 7-2 Hobart run with consecutive jumpers, cutting RPI's lead to 51-44. Black converted a layup, but
Carter Meshanic recorded a traditional 3-point play at the other end of the floor to make it a 53-47 game. The Statesmen would not get any closer.
The Engineers, who went 26-of-33 at the free throw line for the night, countered with a 10-2 run that included a 6-for-7 effort at the line. The push extended the home team's lead to 63-49 with just over five minutes remaining. RPI (5-0, 1-0 Liberty League) maintained at least an eight point lead down the stretch on the way to its fifth straight win.
Black, bolstered by an 8-of-11 effort at the line, scored a game-high 19 points. Mason Memmelaar and Jonny Angbazo added 17 points and 15 points, respectively.
Rodgers was 5-of-11 shooting with a pair of 3-pointers.
Jackson Meshanic was 6-of-12 shooting on his way to 14 points.
Carter Meshanic added 10 points and Healy scored nine.
Chandler Owenby grabbed a game-high nine rebounds.
The Statesmen (3-5, 0-1) will continue their six-game road trip tomorrow at Vassar. Tipoff in Poughkeepsie is scheduled for 4 p.m.
