POUGHKEEPSIE, N.Y.—The Hobart basketball team clinched a spot in the six-team Liberty League Tournament with a 67-62 victory over Vassar tonight. The Statesmen built a 19-point lead by the midpoint of the second half and held off a late charge by the Brewers to punch their ticket to the conference postseason.
 
Hobart put five players in double digits led by senior Carter Meshanic's 15 points on 7-of-8 shooting. First-year Monty Nedd added 12 points, including 7-of-9 from the free throw line. Senior Aidan Rodgers and sophomore Alex Moesch chipped in 11 points apiece. Sophomore Dorian Paki finished with 10 points, a game-high eight rebounds and two blocked shots.
 
Vassar was led by Avery Lee's 15-point night. Shea Fitzgerald was the only other Brewer to reach double figures, logging 13 points and a game-high five assists.
 
FOR THE RECORD

• Hobart improved to 16-8 overall, 10-7 in conference play.
• Vassar slipped to 16-8, 12-5 in the league.

 
KEY STATS

• The Statesmen shot 51.4% from the floor in the first half, building a 42-28 halftime lead.
• Hobart outrebounded the Brewers 39-31 and outscored the home team 17-8 in second chance points.
• While the Statesmen missed their final seven shots from the field, they went 9-of-12 at the free throw line in the final seven minutes, including 4-for-6 in the final minute, to seal the victory.

 
HOW IT HAPPENED

• Hobart scored the first six points of the game and never trailed.
• After Vassar tied the game at 15, the Statesmen went on a 14-4 run that included seven points by Meshanic.
• Hobart boosted its lead with an 11-2 scoring run for a 40-25 lead four minutes before halftime.
• Meshanic had a game-high 13 points at the break.
• The Statesmen continued to expand their lead in the first 10 minutes of the second half.
• Paki threw down a dunk off an offensive rebound and then converted a Nedd steal into a layup for a 54-35 lead with 11 minutes left.
• Vassar started its ill-fated comeback attempt with the game's next 11 points. Fitzgerald started the run with back-to-back 3-points.
• The Brewers used an 11-1 late run to get within four, 63-59, with just under a minute left.

 
REGULAR SEASON FINALE

• Hobart will close out the regular season at Union (14-10, 10-7) on Saturday, Feb. 22. The game is set to begin at 4 p.m.
• The winner will be the Liberty League Tournament No. 4 seed and host a tournament first round game on Tuesday, Feb. 25.