SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y.—The Hobart basketball team used a late surge to escape the Williamson Sports Center with a 67-64 Liberty League win over Skidmore this afternoon. With under four minutes remaining, the Statesmen trailed by five but scored 10 straight points to retake the lead and held on for the win.
 
Hobart first-year Monty Nedd scored a team-high 17 points, including four points during the decisive run. He was 4-of-7 shooting with a 3-pointer and made all eight of his free throws. Nedd also posted a team-high four assists and shared game-high honors with senior Carter Meshanic with three steals. Sophomore Alex Moesch contributed 14 points and seven rebounds. Junior Gabriel Bergeron scored nine points, all in the first half, while senior Pat Healy notched nine points, all in the second half.
 
Skidmore's Charlie Fantom led all scorers with 19 points, including four 3-pointers. Nick Padilla chipped in 14 points and a game-high seven assists. Joey Skoric added eight points and a game-high 10 rebounds. Aidan Roy and Hakeem Daphnis also scored eight points each.
 
FOR THE RECORD

• Hobart improved to 11-4 overall, 5-3 in Liberty League play.
• Skidmore dropped to 4-10, 0-7 in the conference.

 
KEY STATS

• The Statesmen were a season-high plus-13 in turnover margin, committing a season-low matching eight turnovers.
• Hobart cashed in on the Thoroughbreds miscues, scoring 22 points off the home team's 21 turnovers.
• The Statesmen made more free throws (19) than Skidmore attempted (11).
• A back-and-forth game, it featured nine lead changes and six ties.

 
COACH'S CORNER

"After losing last night, we had to shake that off and come ready to play today. We settled into the game after the first five minutes and were able to generate some positive plays on both ends. It was a game of runs — our execution and unity down the stretch was the difference in the game. Winning on the road is always tough in college basketball, so we're thankful to have gutted it out today." – Hobart Head Coach Stefan Thompson '13

 
HOW IT HAPPENED

• Skidmore jumped out to an early 11-2 lead.
• Bergeron alone powered a 9-3 Hobart run, converting a traditional 3-point play followed by back-to-back 3-pointers.
• The Thoroughbreds led 24-18 with six minutes remaining in the opening half, but Hobart rattled off the next 13 points to seize its first lead. Hunter Meshanic led the charge with five points.
• The Statesmen went into halftime with a 35-31 lead.
• Neither team led by more than five points in the second half.
• Skidmore scored seven unanswered points to take a 62-57 lead with just under four minutes left.
• Over the next three minutes, Hobart made all three of its field goal attempts without a turnover, while Skidmore missed all three of its shots and turned the ball over twice.
• Healy made a clutch 3-pointer to pull the Statesmen within one and Nedd put the visitors in front for good with a pair of free throws with 2:13 remaining.
• Nedd capped the run with a layup for a 67-62 Hobart lead.
• Skoric made two free throws with 49 seconds left to make it a one-possession game.
• After a Hobart miss deep in the shot clock, Skidmore got the ball back with about 19 seconds left.
• A contested 3 was off the mark, but the rebound was last touched by the Statesmen before it went out of bounds with about three seconds remaining.
• Skidmore committed its final turnover on the inbounds play, allowing Hobart to run out the clock.

 
HEADED HOME

• The Statesmen will return to the friendly confines of Bristol Gym for their next two games, hosting St. Lawrence and Clarkson Jan. 24-25.