GENEVA, N.Y.—The Hobart College basketball team picked up a huge win over Vassar College 73-68 to keep pace in the hunt for one of six playoff spot in the Liberty League Tournament. In a game that featured eight lead changes and nine ties, the Statesmen turned the tide in their favor at free throw line and with key defensive stops down the stretch.
 
Hobart was 19-of-20 at the charity stripe and got three blocked shots from Patrick Walker in the final four minutes of the contest, including one with seven seconds left and the Statesmen protecting a three-point lead. The junior picked a great time for a career game, scoring 21 points on 8-of-13 shooting, including a pair of threes, and a 3-for-3 effort at the line. He also blocked a career-high four shots, grabbed four rebounds and made two steals.
 
Walker was joined in double figures by Aidan Rodgers, who finished with 13 points, and Jackson Meshanic, who posted 11 points and a team-high nine rebounds despite foul trouble early in the second half.
 
Vassar shot better than Hobart from the field (45.3% vs. 39.3%), but struggled at the free throw line, making just four out of 14 attempts. Three Brewers ended the night in double digits led by Zach Johnson's 21 points on 9-of-15 shooting. Avni Mustafaj added 17 points and Luke Adams chipped in 12 points and a team-high nine rebounds off the bench.
 
With about nine minutes left, Hobart took a 60-54 lead on a 3-pointer by Jack Lesure (7 pts, 6 rebs). As the game clock approached six minutes, that lead was gone as Johnson scored on a driving layup to knot the game at 62.
 
Over the next minute, both teams had multiple chances to take the lead, but no one seized the moment until Walker scored on a short turnaround jumper with under five minutes to play. That bucket touched off a 9-0 Hobart run that ended with a Walker 3-pointer and in between saw the guard block a pair of shots on back-to-back Vassar possessions.
 
Johnson put the Brewers on his back and scored the game's next six points to make it a 71-68 game with under a minute left. Hobart missed a 3-pointer with about 26 seconds left and Adams grabbed the rebound. The Brewers had a great deal of success scoring off the dribble in the game, but as Mustafaj slashed to the basket, Walker swatted his layup attempt off the backboard and Rodgers secured the rebound.
 
The first-year was immediately fouled and closed the game out by making both free throws.
 
In the first half, Hobart was able to build the largest lead of the game for either team, 23-12, thanks to a 12-2 run. Vassar rallied and went into the locker room with a 34-33 lead. Mustafaj led all scorers with 13 points at the break.
 
The Statesmen (12-12, 9-8) will go into the final game of the regular season tied for fourth place in the Liberty League standings. Hobart can clinch a playoff berth with a win over Rensselaer (20-4, 14-3) or with wins by St. Lawrence (at home vs. Union) and Skidmore (at Clarkson).
 
The Statesmen and Engineers will tip off in Bristol Gym at 4 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 19. Prior to the start of the game, Hobart will recognize its senior class: Trevor Dow, Chandler Owenby, Lesure and team manager Mike Kneuer.