The Hobart College basketball team shot a season-high 55.8% from the floor on the way to an 81-58 Liberty League win over visiting Rochester Institute of Technology this afternoon. The Statesmen also played tough team defense, limiting the Tigers to 38.2% shooting.
Junior Pat Healy paced the Statesmen with a game-high 17 points, converting 8-of-9 from the floor with a 3-pointer. Senior Isaiah Washington, last night’s high scorer in the win over Ithaca, added 11 points and senior Ryan Lucey logged 10 points.
Senior Matt Caggiano was the only RIT player in double figures, finishing with 13 points.
KEY STATS
- Last night, Hobart finished a season-high plus-15 on the boards. This afternoon, the Statesmen surpassed that, outrebounding the Tigers 39-22 (+17). The 22 rebounds are the fewest RIT has had in a game this season.
- It was a team effort on the glass for Hobart. Of the 15 Statesmen to play in the game, 13 recorded at least one rebound with Lucey corralling a game-high seven.
HOW IT HAPPENED
- For the second game in a row, the Statesmen never trailed. Healy scored the game’s opening basket and RIT senior Kenny Wilburn tied moments later. It was the only tie of the contest.
- Hobart countered with the next six points and never looked back.
- By the midpoint of the second half, the Statesmen enjoyed a double-digit lead.
- Wilburn made a layup near the 8-minute mark of the first half that cut the Tigers’ deficit to nine, but Healy hit a floating jumper at the other end of the floor to push Hobart’s advantage back into double digits for good.
- Over the final five minutes of the first half, RIT made just one field goal and went into the locker room trailing 36-19.
- Healy led all scorers with 10 points at the break.
- During a four-minute span early in the second half, Hobart used a 13-2 run to break the game wide open. Healy accounted for five of the Statesmen points.
FOR THE RECORD
- Hobart picked up its third straight win to improve to 15-4 overall, 8-4 in the Liberty League.
- RIT lost for the third straight game, slipping to 9-9 overall, 5-6 in the league.
PLAYOFF PICTURE
- The top three teams in the Liberty League all won.
- St. Lawrence remains in first place, two games ahead of the Statesmen and Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, who are tied for second.
- Union and Bard are tied for fifth, two games behind Hobart and RPI.
- Ithaca and RIT are tied for sixth place.
- The top six teams play in the Liberty League Championship Tournament.
ALUMNI WEEKEND
- Hobart will be home again next weekend for a pair of Liberty League games, hosting Clarkson (Feb. 2) and St. Lawrence (Feb. 3).
- It will also be Hobart Basketball Alumni Weekend with an alumni game Saturday morning and alumni gatherings after the games.
Kyle leads sports coverage and hosts the Concrete Jungle podcast. Have a lead or question? Send it to [email protected].