GENEVA, N.Y. – Despite shooting 52 percent from the field in the second half Saturday afternoon,  a slow offensive start hampered the Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI) men's basketball team in a 64-59 loss to the Hobart Statesmen. The loss moves RPI to 3-5 overall and 1-2 in Liberty League play, while Hobart improves to 7-0 and 3-0 in league play.

Hobart got a season-high 31 points from its bench, including a game-high 17-point effort by first-year Alex Moesch. He also shared game-high honors with seven rebounds. Junior Aidan Rodgers contributed 11 points, while classmate Pat Healy chipped in 10 points and seven boards.
 
RPI put a trio of starters in double figures led by Avery Eugster's game-high 22 points. Dylan Matchett and Jonny Angbazo produced 12 points and 10 points, respectively. Angbazo grabbed a team-high six rebounds and dished out a game-high five assists.
 
KEY STATS

• Hobart shot a season-high matching 50% from the floor, including 59.1% in the second half.
• The Statesmen outrebounded the Engineers 38-24. RPI has been outrebounded only one other time this season, finishing minus-18 at nationally-ranked Oswego. The Engineers' 24 boards are a season-low.
• RPI came into the game with the Liberty League's No. 1 scoring defense, limiting opponents to just 61.0 points per game, but Hobart showed they could beat the Engineers at their own game. It's the second game in a row that the Statesmen have kept their opponent under 60 points for the game.

 
HOW IT HAPPENED

• A close game from start to finish, neither team led by more than nine. The lead changed hands six times and was tied six times.
• As close as it was, RPI led for just over five minutes compared to more than 28 minutes with the lead for Hobart.
• The Engineers seized their final lead of the game with over five minutes remaining in the first half. Sophomore Nate Tawiah-Boateng's layup gave Rensselaer a 20-18 edge.
• Hobart answered with six straight points on layups by sophomore Gabriel Bergeron, senior Isaiah Washington, and Dorian Paki.
• RPI forged the final tie of the game midway through the second half. Matchett's turnaround jumper knotted the contest at 46.
• At the other end of the floor, junior Junter Meshanic put Hobart back in front for good with a layup.
• It was a one-point game with under seven minutes to play, but Rodgers scored the game's next seven points, including a 3-pointer that gave the Statesmen a 58-50 with two minutes remaining.
• Hobart closed out the historic victory with a 4-for-5 effort at the free throw line in the final minute.

RPI returns to action on Friday, Dec. 29 at 6 p.m. when they take on Connecticut College in the first day of the Utica University Classic.