POTSDAM, N.Y.—The Hobart College basketball team held off Clarkson University for a 79-77 Liberty League win this afternoon. The Statesmen trailed 59-55 with nine minutes remaining, but rallied to retake the lead and held on for their 13th win of the season.
 
Junior Aidan Rodgers produced a career-high 22 points to pace the Statesmen. He was 6-of-11 shooting with two 3-pointers and 8-of-9 at the free throw line. Clarkson attempted to shut down junior Carter Meshanic, double teaming him each time he touched the ball. While the strategy limited him to just six points, senior Isaiah Washington stepped up with a season-high match 17 points. He was 6-of-9 shooting with a pair of threes and a 3-for-3 effort at the line. First-year Alex Moesch and junior Hunter Meshanic added 9 points and 8 points, respectively.
 
Clarkson had four players reach double digits, led by Ryan Miles-Ferguson's game-high 24 points.
 
COACH'S COMMENTS

"I'm proud of how we responded today. We didn't allow yesterday's performance to carry over. That's a testament to our mental toughness and unity. Aidan played well, Isaiah found ways to score, Dorian [Paki], Hunter & Gabe [Bergeron] gave us great minutes. I felt the defense from Pat Healy & Isaiah had a great ripple effect and propelled us to the win." – Hobart Head Coach Stefan Thompson

 
KEY STATS

• Hobart shot better than Clarkson overall (46.6%-44.6%), but the Golden Knights made more than twice as many 3-pointers as the Statesmen (13-5).
• Hobart, which has excelled at the free throw line all season, once again made more free throws than its opponent attempted. The Statesmen were 20-of-25 at the line. CU was 14-of-18.
• On the final box score, all of the special analysis stats favored Hobart.
  • Points off turnovers: Hobart 14-3
  • Second chance points: Hobart 15-6
  • Bench points: Hobart 26-9
  • Points in the paint: Hobart 38-18
  • Fast break points: Hobart 12-2

HOW IT HAPPENED

• Hobart and Clarkson exchanged the lead 10 times and were tied six times throughout the afternoon.
• Neither team led by more than seven points.
• The Golden Knights closed out the first half on 7-2 run to carry a 38-36 lead into the break.
• The start of the second half was a series of momentum swings.
• Near the midway point of the second half, Aydin Kocak (9 pts) and Steve DeRegis (14 pts) connected on back-to-back 3-pointers to stake the home team to a 59-55 lead.
• Over the next five minutes, Hobart put together a 17-6 run that included eight points from Rodgers, four more from Washington and was punctuated by a dunk by Paki (7 pts).
• The Golden Knights whittled the visitors' lead down to a single possession several times in the final four minutes, but the Statesmen kept the home team at bay.
• CU had just one shot down the stretch that could have tied the game (a missed 3-pointer near the two-minute mark) and none that would have given it the lead.

 
FOR THE RECORD

• Hobart improved to 13-4 overall, 6-4 in the Liberty League.
• Clarkson fell to 10-6, 4-5 in the league.

 
HEADING HOME

• The Statesmen will begin a four-game homestand Friday, Jan. 26 when they welcome Ithaca (10-6, 5-4) to Bristol Gym. Tipoff is set for 7:30 p.m.