Dorian Paki blocked a potential tying layup at the buzzer as Hobart opened its men’s basketball season with a 67-65 win over Gettysburg on Saturday at Bristol Gym in Geneva.
Allen Mordi led the Statesmen with 14 points, eight rebounds and three blocks in a game with 14 lead changes and 10 ties, according to Hobart’s game recap. Hobart started 1-0, while Gettysburg fell to 0-1.
Late run and defensive stop decide the opener
Hobart trailed 56-53 with four minutes remaining before scoring seven consecutive points to take a four-point lead. Paki supplied five points in that stretch, and Mordi’s two free throws with 2:30 left put the Statesmen ahead.
Gettysburg cut the deficit to two with fewer than five seconds remaining. Caleb Gillus got a layup off at the buzzer, but Paki blocked it to preserve the victory.
The Statesmen made both of their field-goal attempts and went 10-for-14 at the free-throw line over the final four minutes without committing a turnover.
Coach Stefan Thompson credited his team’s composure and its ability to get defensive stops and play with poise offensively down the stretch.
“We’re 1-0, but know there is much more room for improvement,” Thompson said.
Four Statesmen reach double figures
Mordi, a junior, led Hobart in scoring, rebounding and blocked shots. Paki, a senior, finished with 11 points and three rebounds.
Senior Alex Moesch scored 10 points on 4-of-7 shooting and grabbed three rebounds. Tucker Burnett also scored 10 points, making four of his eight shots. Junior Monty Nedd contributed eight points, five rebounds and five steals.
Ray Zamloot made five 3-pointers for Gettysburg and finished with 15 points and six rebounds. Gillus also scored 15, while Reece Craft had 14 points on 7-of-11 shooting, 10 rebounds and two blocks.
The Bullets made eight 3-pointers to Hobart’s two, but the Statesmen made 17 free throws, more than Gettysburg’s 13 attempts. Each team collected 36 rebounds. Hobart shot 44.4% from the field to Gettysburg’s 40% and committed 12 turnovers to the Bullets’ 15.
Lead changes carry through both halves
Gettysburg hit two early 3-pointers, but Burnett answered from long range and Moesch scored after two offensive rebounds to give Hobart a 10-6 lead with 16:21 left in the first half.
The Statesmen then went more than six minutes without scoring. Gettysburg moved ahead 11-10, and the teams exchanged leads on baskets by Matt Dalton, Craft and Paki before Craft and Zamloot helped the Bullets build an 18-14 advantage.
Mordi started a nine-point Hobart run with two free throws at 7:01 and added two layups. Sophomore Elvis Lloyd capped the stretch with a 3-pointer at 4:52 for a 23-18 lead.
Alex Grospe later brought Gettysburg within 27-26. Moesch scored with 36 seconds remaining, and two Gillus free throws with 10 seconds left sent Hobart into halftime ahead 29-28.
The second half included ties at 31, 33 and 35 before Charlie Marcoullier’s 3-pointer put Gettysburg ahead 38-37. Burnett answered with a layup at 14:56.
Dalton’s jumper gave Hobart a 49-44 lead with 9:13 remaining, but Gettysburg scored seven straight points, moving ahead on Craft’s jumper at 7:08. Grospe’s free throws extended the Bullets’ lead to 55-51 with five minutes left before Hobart’s late comeback.
The Statesmen host St. John Fisher University at 7:30 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 11, at Bristol Gym.
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