GENEVA, N.Y.—The Hobart College basketball team defeated Liberty League preseason favorite Vassar College 75-64 in Bristol Gym this afternoon. The Statesmen never trailed thanks in part to a 57.8% shooting performance and a 35-23 rebounding edge.
Hobart senior
Jackson Meshanic led all scorers with 26 points on 9-of-12 shooting with two 3-pointers. He was also 6-for-6 from the free throw line. Sophomores
Aidan Rodgers and
Carter Meshanic joined him in double digits with 14 and 11 points, respectively. Rodgers also logged a game-high four assists. Senior
Patrick Walker led the Statesmen (6-3, 2-1 Liberty League) on the glass with a game-high nine rebounds and
Jackson Meshanic grabbed seven.
Vassar (4-2, 1-1) shot 41.4% from the floor, but enjoyed a 22-6 advantage in points off turnovers. Avni Mustafaj and Kevin McAuliffe paced the Brewers with 13 points each. Jack Rothenberg posted 12 points, a team-high five rebounds and three assists. Luke Adams chipped in 11 points off the bench.
FIRST HALF
- The Statesmen shot 65.2% in the first half, but only had a 17-15 edge on the glass.
- Hobart took its largest lead of the opening 20 minutes when Carter and Hunter Meshanic combined for five straight points, giving the Statesmen a 25-16 lead with eight minutes remaining.
- With Jackson Meshanic and Walker on the bench with two fouls late in the half, Vassar was able to wipe out Hobart's lead. Adams' step-back 3-pointer near the two-minute mark, tied the game at 33.
- Rodgers answered with a 3 to put the Statesmen back in front and graduate student Evan Goldberg's layup made it a 38-33 going into halftime.
SECOND HALF
- While Hobart cooled off in the second half, shooting "only" 50%, the Statesmen stepped up their rebounding efforts, enjoying an 18-8 advantage.
- After trailing by as many as 14, Vassar used an 11-2 run to get within five midway through the second frame.
- Hobart scored the next five points to go up 10 and maintained at least a three-possession lead the rest of the way.
COACH'S CORNER
UP NEXT
- The Statesmen will be off for the next 10 days for final exams, returning to competition Dec. 14 at Baldwin Wallace University (3-3).
