Hobart sophomore Alex Moesch scored a team-high 16 points in the regular season finale at Union this afternoon. The Dutchmen pulled out a 76-69 win to secure the No. 4 seed in the Liberty League Tournament, which begins Tuesday. The Statesmen will be the No. 5 seed and make a return trip to the Viniar Athletic Center for a rematch in three days.
Moesch was 7-of-13 shooting with a pair of 3-pointers. He was joined in double figures by first-year Monty Nedd, who scored 12 points. Seniors Carter Meshanic and Pat Healy and first-year Allen Mordi all finished with nine points. Senior Hunter Meshanic paced Hobart on the glass with nine rebounds.
Union put four players in double digits. Jack Plesser led the way with 18 points and nine rebounds. Brendan Reid added a double-double on 14 points and 15 rebounds. Matthew Garside also had 14 points, while Tanner Tedesco logged 13 points and six assists.
Box Score
FOR THE RECORD
- Hobart will head to the Liberty League Tournament with a 16-9 overall record. The Statesmen went 10-8 in conference play.
- Union moved to 15-10 overall, 11-7 in the league.
KEY STATS
- A back-and-forth affair, the game featured nine lead changes and seven ties.
- Union overcame a 33% shooting first half, connecting at a 58.6% rate after halftime.
- The Dutchmen outrebounded Hobart 44-32.
- Union made more free throws (12) than Hobart attempted (9).
- The Statesmen committed a season-low five turnovers.
HOW IT HAPPENED
- An 8-1 run midway through the first half gave Hobart a 23-18 lead. Nedd started the run with a 3-pointer and Mordi followed with a traditional 3-point play.
- The Statesmen went into halftime with a 35-28 lead.
- Midway through the second half, Reid and Garside hit consecutive 3-pointers to start an 8-0 run, giving Union the lead.
- Hobart reclaimed the lead with four straight points.
- Mordi nailed a 3-pointer at the 8:48 mark for a 53-51 Hobart lead. It was the visitor’s final lead of the game.
- The Dutchmen used an 8-3 run to retake the lead for good. Union sealed the victory with a 4-for-4 effort at the free-throw line in the final minute.
TOURNAMENT TIME
- Hobart will return to Union Tuesday, Feb. 25 for a first-round Liberty League Tournament game. Tipoff is tentatively scheduled for 7 p.m.
- Tuesday’s winner will advance to Friday’s semifinal at top-seeded Rensselaer (20-5).
Kyle leads sports coverage and hosts the Concrete Jungle podcast. Have a lead or question? Send it to kyle@fingerlakes1.com.
