GENEVA, N.Y.—Hobart senior Aidan Rodgers scored a career-high 26 points, but Vassar got a last-second tip-in to escape Bristol Gym with an 80-78 overtime win.
 
Rodgers was 9-of-13 shooting with a pair of 3-pointers and 6-of-9 at the free throw line. He raised his career points total to 927, taking a big step closer to becoming the program's 32nd member of the 1,000-point club. Sophomore Alex Moesch joined Rodgers in double digits, posting 15 points to go with seven rebounds. Senior Carter Meshanic narrowly missed a double-double, posting nine points and a game-high 13 rebounds.
 
The Brewers' scoring efforts centered on Shea Fitzgerald and Avery Lee, who both logged 20 points. Nathan  Denham registered a double-double on 12 points, including the decisive tip-in, and 11 rebounds.
 
THRILLING FINISH

• Fitzgerald tied the game at 78 on a pull up jumper in the lane with 36 seconds to go.
• Hobart missed a shot with about 9 seconds left and Vassar grabbed the carom.
• At the other end of the floor, Fitzgerald slashed to the basket and missed a layup, but Denham was there to put it in with 0.7 seconds left.
• Hobart got off a desperation heave from the wrong side of midcourt, but it was off the mark.

 
COMEBACK I

• The Brewers led by as many as 11 points in the first half, taking a 36-25 lead on a Fitzgerald fast-break bucket about two and a half minutes before the break.
• Senior Pat Healy, playing in his first game of the season following an injury, started the Hobart rally with a layup and a 3-pointer in back-to-back possessions.
• Rodgers canned another triple near the one minute mark to make it a 5-point game.
• First-year Allen Mordi made a 3-pointer of his own to knot the game at 38 going into the locker room.

 
COMEBACK II

• Hobart also staged a furious comeback to end regulation.
• Lee made a pair of free throws with 49 seconds left to put Vassar up 67-61.
• Rodgers raced down the floor and drove to the basket, cutting the lead to four.
• The Statesmen put Lee back on the line with 35 seconds to go, where he made 1-of-2.
• Moesch secured the rebound off the missed second shot and was fouled. He made both shots to make it a 3-point game.
• Rodgers made a steal off the ensuing inbounds play and put it up for a quick two with 24 seconds left.
• Lee went back to the line and made a pair of free throws at the 17-second mark.
• Moesch drove to the basket and converted a layup with 9.2 seconds remaining and was fouled. He made the and-one to tie the game and send it to overtime.

 
FOR THE RECORD

• Vassar improved to 4-3 overall, 1-1 in the Liberty League.
• Hobart slipped to 5-3, 1-2.

 
ON THE HORIZON

• Hobart will take a week off for final exams. The Statesmen will return to action at 2 p.m. Monday, Dec. 16, when they visit Utica for a non-conference contest.