Alex Moesch became the 33rd player in Hobart men’s basketball history to reach 1,000 career points Wednesday night, but St. John Fisher rallied from a 17-point deficit to beat the Statesmen 65-60 at Bristol Gym in Geneva.
The senior reached the milestone on a turnaround jumper with 15:31 remaining in the first half, according to HWS Athletics’ game recap. He finished with 10 points on 4-for-7 shooting, including two 3-pointers, as Hobart dropped to 1-1.
Fisher erases Hobart’s early advantage
Hobart opened a 10-2 lead with early baskets from Moesch, Dorian Paki and Allen Mordi. After Fisher pulled within 12-11, the Statesmen held the Cardinals scoreless for nearly six minutes and stretched their lead to 21-11. Tre Paulfrey contributed a jumper, a 3-pointer and a fast-break layup during that run.
A subsequent 10-0 burst featured a Paki dunk and 3-pointers by Moesch and Justin Price, giving Hobart a 31-14 advantage with 5:21 left in the half.
Fisher answered with a 19-2 run to reach halftime tied at 33. Giovanni Schillaci’s 3-pointer with 36 seconds remaining completed the comeback.
Cardinals take control after halftime
Paki scored inside to open the second half, and Paulfrey later hit a 3-pointer to tie the game at 38. Fisher moved ahead 43-38 before Hobart responded with baskets from Elvis Lloyd and Harrison Muntner. Paki’s layup gave the Statesmen their final lead, 47-46, with 10:25 remaining.
Mekhi Gidney answered with a layup, then made a steal that led to a dunk and free throw. The Cardinals later extended their advantage to 60-52.
Paulfrey’s 3-pointer and Tucker Burnett’s free throws brought Hobart within 60-57. Andrew Violante hit a jumper with 54 seconds left to restore a five-point lead, and Fisher held on for its second consecutive victory, improving to 2-1.
Turnovers offset Hobart’s rebounding edge
Paulfrey led all scorers with 14 points, making three 3-pointers and adding three assists. Mordi finished with nine points and 11 rebounds, seven on the offensive glass. Paki contributed eight points, five rebounds and three blocks, while Burnett recorded five points, four assists and four steals.
Hobart outrebounded Fisher 41-34 and held a 9-2 advantage in second-chance points. The Cardinals countered with 16 steals and a 27-17 edge in points off turnovers. Hobart committed 21 turnovers to Fisher’s 18.
Gidney and Violante scored 11 points apiece for Fisher. Gidney also had five rebounds, two assists and two steals. Violante and Schillaci each recorded four steals, while Schillaci scored nine points on three 3-pointers. Jake Pangrazio added three blocks and five rebounds.
Fisher shot 40.7% from the field and 40.9% from 3-point range. Hobart finished at 36.4% overall and 29.2% from beyond the arc.
Mount Union is next
Hobart travels to Alliance, Ohio, to face the University of Mount Union at 1 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 14.
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