The Hobart College basketball team completed a season sweep of Rochester Institute of Technology, defeating the Tigers a 99-80 in Bristol Gym Saturday. The Statesmen’s Pat Healy exploded for a career-high 31 points, including 21 in the second half.
Healy finished the day 13-of-17 shooting, including 5-of-6 from beyond the 3-point arc. He also shared team-high honors with three assists. Aidan Rodgers also enjoyed an exceptional shooting game, making 7-of-10 on his way to a 17-point, 3-assist day. Jackson Meshanic gave Hobart 13 points and a team-high seven rebounds off the bench. Jack Lesure contributed 11 points and three assists.
The Statesmen made a season-high 13 3-pointers and shot a season-high 50% from behind the arc. Hobart’s overall shooting percentage, 55.2%, is second only to the team’s 68.5% clip in the season-opening win at Keuka. The Statesmen were plus-4 in turnover margin and enjoyed a 15-6 edge in points off turnovers.
RIT was led by Brock Bowen and Kevin Ryan. Bowen logged team-highs of 17 points and three assists while Ryan finished with 16 points. The Tigers shot 48.2% from the field, including 5-of-9 from deep.
The first half was a back-and-forth affair with neither team able to gain more than a four-point lead. It featured 13 lead changes and eight ties. Hobart carried a 43-42 lead into halftime after Rodgers delivered a deep 3-pointer at the buzzer. Rodgers and Healy both had 10 points heading into the break. Ryan led all scorers with 12 points.
Just over two minutes into the second half, Bowen put down a driving layup for a 48-47 RIT lead. It was the Tigers last lead of the game. Rodgers drained a pull up jumper at the other end of the floor, to put Hobart back in front and kick off a 12-4 Statesmen run.
RIT pulled within two twice before the halfway point of the second half, but each time the Statesmen rallied. Andrew Fox’s hook shot with just under 14 minutes remaining cut the Tigers’ deficit to 59-57. Healy countered with a 3-pointer that touched off a 16-6 Hobart run that put the home team up 75-63 with seven and a half minutes to play. The Statesmen maintained a double digit lead for the rest of the contest.
Hobart (6-9, 3-5) will be action in action Tuesday, Feb. 1 when the Statesmen visit Skidmore (9-6, 5-4). RIT (6-10, 4-6) will return home to host Clarkson (5-12, 2-8) at 5:30 p.m. Friday, Feb. 4.
