Hobart basketball delivered its best shooting performance of the season, hitting 66 percent from the field in an 86-66 Liberty League win over Ithaca on Tuesday night in Bristol Gym. The victory moved the Statesmen to 7-2 overall and 2-1 in conference play.
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Monty Nedd led the way with a career-high 27 points, nearly posting a triple-double as he added nine rebounds, eight assists and four steals. Alex Moesch followed with 20 points, including three makes from beyond the arc, while Dorian Paki contributed 17 points and a career-best five blocks. First-year Jackson Carey added 10 points off the bench.
Ithaca, now 2-6 and 1-2 in league action, had three players score in double figures, led by Evan Cabral’s 22 points. Alex Penders chipped in 12, and Jaylon O’Neal pulled down seven rebounds.
Hobart took control early, turning a small deficit into a nine-point lead with a 14-3 run. After Ithaca briefly closed the gap, the Statesmen broke the game open with a dominant 23-4 stretch that featured hot shooting and strong defense. Hobart shot 10-of-11 during that burst while holding Ithaca to a single make.
The Statesmen carried a 53-26 advantage into halftime and maintained a comfortable margin throughout the second half, leading by as many as 27. Ithaca trimmed the deficit to 17 late, but Hobart responded with an eight-point spurt to seal the result.
Hobart closes the calendar year at home against Utica on December 13.
Kyle leads sports coverage and hosts the Concrete Jungle podcast. Have a lead or question? Send it to kyle@fingerlakes1.com.