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TROY, N.Y. - Hobart College had five student-athletes reach double digits, including two with double-doubles of points and rebounds, and the Statesmen defeated Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI), 106-93, in the Liberty League opener for both teams. Hobart, which made 50.7% of its shots from the field and 81.6% from the free throw line, improves to 7-3 overall. The Engineers fall to 3-7.

The Statesmen, who defeated RPI in the league tournament championship game last season, were led by seniors Richie Bonney (Norwich, NY / Norwich) and Joe Gibbons (Lindenhurst, NY / St. John the Baptist), who combined for 43 points, 27 rebounds, five assists, four steals and a block. Bonney had 26 points on 11 of 15 shooting from the floor with 17 rebounds, four assists and three steals in 37 minutes. Gibbons had a double-double of 17 points, including 9 of 10 from the free throw line, and 10 rebounds. 

Rensselaer had four players in double figures on the scoreboard, led by junior Josh Dugas (Monroe, CT / St. Luke's), who had 22 points. He made a game-high five three-point baskets, going 5 of 8.

Hobart led by as many as 17 points in the first half and 10 at halftime, 54-44. RPI pulled to within two points, 66-64, just 5:40 into the second half with the help of four early three-point baskets, but the Statesmen immediately answered with a 12-0 run for a 78-64 lead with 10:48 left in the second half. Gibbons had five points in the sequence, four from the foul line. The closest the Engineers could get from that point was eight points with 8:47 to play.

Joining Bonney and Gibbons in double figures in points were junior Connor Rehbaum (Cheektowaga, NY / St. Joseph's Collegiate), who had 18 points and seven rebounds, freshman Pete Drescher (Fayetteville, NY / Jamesville-DeWitt), who had 14 points, seven rebounds and a game-high eight assists, and sophomore Mike LaValle (Syracuse, NY / West Genesee), who scored 13 points in 11 minutes. Hobart made 36 of 71 shots from the field and 31 of 38 from the free throw line.

For RPI, in addition to Dugas, sophomore Jesus Cardenas (Phoenix, AZ / Apollo) had 13 points and a team-best five assists, classmate Tyler Gendron (Merrimack, NH / Merrimack) had 12 points, and Chase Almond (South Kingstown, RI / South Kingstown), another sophomore, had 10 points with a team-high seven rebounds.

The Engineers host St. Lawrence University in a league game on Saturday at 4pm at East Campus Arena, while Hobart plays at league foe Skidmore College on Saturday at 4pm.