Hobart basketball couldn’t withstand a late surge on Saturday, falling 85-74 at Vassar in Liberty League play. The Statesmen dropped to 6-2 overall and 1-1 in conference action, while the Brewers moved to 6-1 and stayed unbeaten in league games.
After trailing by as many as 15 in the first half, Hobart clawed back with a 25-8 run that bridged halftime, taking a 49-47 lead with 15 minutes remaining. The momentum didn’t hold. Vassar responded with a decisive 12-point run late in the game, stretching its advantage to 81-65 with under four minutes left.
Four Statesmen reached double figures, led by Alex Moesch’s 16 points and three steals. Monty Nedd and Allen Mordi each added 13 points, and Dorian Paki chipped in 11 points and seven rebounds. First-year Harrison Muntner provided energy off the bench with five points and a team-best eight boards, while Justin Price handed out four assists. Vassar countered with three double-digit scorers, highlighted by Shea Fitzgerald’s game-high 21 points.
Vassar controlled the early stages, jumping out to an 8-0 lead before Hobart settled in. The Brewers later built a 39-24 cushion, but the Statesmen closed the half on a 12-2 push to pull within five at the break. Hobart briefly flipped the score with a flurry of threes to open the second half, yet Vassar’s timely shooting and defensive stops proved too much down the stretch.
Hobart returns home Tuesday, December 9, to host Ithaca at 7:30 p.m.
Kyle leads sports coverage and hosts the Concrete Jungle podcast. Have a lead or question? Send it to kyle@fingerlakes1.com.