Box Score |
Like RPI Athletics on FacebookGENEVA, N.Y. - The Hobart College senior trio of Connor Rehbaum, Trey Blanding and Andrew Hoy combined for 39 points, leading the Statesmen to a 50-46 victory over visiting Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute in Liberty League men's basketball action today. Hobart used a gritty, defensive effort to post its seventh consecutive win and remain tied for first in the Liberty League.
Rehbaum shared game-high honors with 15 points. Blanding added 14 points, including the final four points of the game, and Hoy scored 10 points and grabbed six rebounds. Junior Domonique Petty-Fernander grabbed a team-high eight rebounds. The Statesmen shot just 37 percent from the floor, including 3-of-17 from 3-point range, and made 9-of-10 at the free throw line. Hobart was plus-three in turnover margin (7-10) and enjoyed an 11-2 advantage in points off turnovers.
The Engineers also put three players in double figures led by
Brian Hatcher's 15 points and game-high 10 rebounds.
Josh Dugas added 11 points, all in the first half, and
Chase Almond had 10 points and eight rebounds. RPI shot 35 percent from the floor (4-of-19 from deep) and went 6-of-8 at the line.
Neither team gained much traction offensively in the first half. RPI held the biggest lead of the stanza at just five points. After Hatcher gave the Engineers a 22-17 lead with a pair of made free throws at the 6:43 mark, the Statesmen closed the half with a 13-4 run to take a 30-26 lead into halftime. Rehbaum scored seven points down the stretch.
Hoy hit a 3-pointer early in the second half to put the Statesmen in front 37-28. After Hatcher and sophomore Zach Grattan traded layups to make it 39-30, RPI scored 12 consecutive points, including five from Hatcher. Hoy tied the game at 44 with a three at 4:02. Traded baskets raised the score to 46-all with 3:03 left. Both teams misfired on their next two possessions, before Blanding found a lane to the basket for a layup with 64 second to go.
RPI went for the lead with 24 seconds left, but the 3-point try went out of bounds to Hobart. The Statesmen were unable to get the ball inbounds, turning it over with 15 ticks remaining. The Engineers missed another three and Petty-Fernander grabbed the rebound and handed off to Blanding who was fouled. He made both of his free throws to ice the win.
Hobart (15-6, 10-2) will be on the road next weekend, visiting Bard (9-12, 4-8) on Friday, Feb. 13, at 8 p.m. RPI (6-15, 3-9) is also on the road on Friday, traveling to Skidmore (12-7, 9-2).
