Hobart basketball clinches spot in Liberty League postseason with win over Vassar

The Hobart basketball team clinched a spot in the six-team Liberty League Tournament with a 67-62 victory over Vassar tonight. The Statesmen built a 19-point lead by the midpoint of the second half and held off a late charge by the Brewers to punch their ticket to the conference postseason.

Hobart put five players in double digits led by senior Carter Meshanic’s 15 points on 7-of-8 shooting. First-year Monty Nedd added 12 points, including 7-of-9 from the free throw line. Senior Aidan Rodgersand sophomore Alex Moesch chipped in 11 points apiece. Sophomore Dorian Paki finished with 10 points, a game-high eight rebounds and two blocked shots.

Vassar was led by Avery Lee’s 15-point night. Shea Fitzgerald was the only other Brewer to reach double figures, logging 13 points and a game-high five assists.

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The Statesmen shot 51.4% from the floor in the first half, building a 42-28 halftime lead.
Hobart outrebounded the Brewers 39-31 and outscored the home team 17-8 in second chance points.
While the Statesmen missed their final seven shots from the field, they went 9-of-12 at the free throw line in the final seven minutes, including 4-for-6 in the final minute, to seal the victory.

HOW IT HAPPENED

Hobart scored the first six points of the game and never trailed.
After Vassar tied the game at 15, the Statesmen went on a 14-4 run that included seven points by Meshanic.
Hobart boosted its lead with an 11-2 scoring run for a 40-25 lead four minutes before halftime.
Meshanic had a game-high 13 points at the break.
The Statesmen continued to expand their lead in the first 10 minutes of the second half.
Paki threw down a dunk off an offensive rebound and then converted a Nedd steal into a layup for a 54-35 lead with 11 minutes left.
Vassar started its ill-fated comeback attempt with the game’s next 11 points. Fitzgerald started the run with back-to-back 3-points.
The Brewers used an 11-1 late run to get within four, 63-59, with just under a minute left.

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