Box Score

TROY, N.Y. – Junior Richie Bonney netted a career-high 40 points to lead the Hobart College men's basketball team to a, 90-85, come-from-behind victory over Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI) in the Liberty League opener for both schools, this evening at East Campus Arena. With the win, the Statesmen improve to 5-4 overall (1-0 LL), while the Engineers drop to 5-5 (0-1 LL).

Bonney (Norwich, NY/Norwich) scored 21 of his 40 points in the second half, shooting 18 for 23 from the floor. Also grabbing 11 rebounds, he helped the visitors erase an eight-point (44-36) deficit at halftime.

The Engineers jumped out to an early lead, thanks to superb shooting from distance, hitting 4 of 6 threes in the opening stanza. Senior captains Jamie Zajac (Merrimack, NH/Bishop Guertin) had a team-best nine points in 12 first-half minutes, while classmate and fellow captain Brendan Farley (Burlington, VT/Burlington) recorded eight points and hit 2 of 3 three-pointers.

Rensselaer's start to the second half resembled the first as the hosts' lead grew as large as 15 points (62-47), just 4:37 into the frame on a three-pointer by freshman Jesus Cardenas (Phoenix, AZ/Apollo).

That lead was quickly cut in half, thanks to a lay-up by Bonney, a three from senior Stefan Thompson (Syracuse, NY/Christian Brothers Academy) and a fast-break lay-in by sophomore Trey Blanding (Cleona, PA/Annville-Cleona).

Zajac answered with a bucket of his own with 13:40 to play to push the RPI advantage back to 10 (64-54). Freshman Tyler Gendron (Merrimack, NH/Merrimack) then drained a triple from the corner to make it 67-54.

A pair of free throws by Hobart junior Joe Gibbons (Lindenhurst, NY/St. John The Baptist) cut the deficit to seven (72-65), but the Engineers fought right back, as a floater from Cardenas and a lay-up by senior captain Daniel Martin (Cohasset, MA/Cohasset) made it an 11-point game once again.

With just under seven minutes remaining, the Statesmen went on their decisive run trimming a 79-69 disadvantage to just one (80-79) with 4:54 on the clock. It wasn't until the final two minutes when Hobart took its first lead (85-83) on a basket by Bonney.

A lay-up from senior Sean Peer (Colonie, NY/Colonie) extended the lead to 87-83 and the Statesmen were able to hold onto the lead down the stretch, despite hitting just 3 of 6 from the free-throw line.

Leading RPI offensively was Zajac, who netted 18 points to go along with five assists. Farley finished with 14 points, while Gendron added 11.

The Engineers are back on the court tomorrow afternoon, when they host Clarkson at East Campus Arena (4pm). Hobart visits Skidmore (4pm).