Long-range shooting lifts Statesmen over Engineers

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TROY, N.Y.—Senior Andrew Hoy made four 3-pointers and scored a game-high 16 points to lead Hobart College to a 58-52 Liberty League men's basketball win at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute tonight.
 
Both teams shot 21-of-53 (40%) from the floor, but the Statesmen (9-6, 4-2) earned the win with their long-range shooting. Hoy was 4-of-8 from downtown, senior Connor Rehbaum was 2-of-7 from deep on his way to 12 points, and first-year Luke Ruddy made the only triple he attempted and finished the night with 13 points.
 
Hobart held a slim advantage on the boards, 35-32, and in turnovers 9-11. The Statesmen were active on defense, producing steals on seven of the Engineers' 11 turnovers. SophomorePete Drescher led the way on the glass and in thievery, notching game-highs with nine rebounds and three steals.
 
Hobart trailed only twice in the opening 20 minutes, 2-0 and 20-19 and led by as many as 6, 12-6, but the teams went into the locker room at halftime knotted at 26.
 
RPI (5-12, 2-6) opened the second half with a 6-2 run to take a 32-28 lead. The Statesmen wiped out their 4-point deficit with 10 unanswered points. Sophomore Domonique Petty-Fernander started the run with a short jumper. Rehbaum and Hoy followed with triples and senior Trey Blanding finished it off with a layup.
 
The Engineers cut the lead to 2 with consecutive baskets, but the Statesmen outscored RPI 12-4 over the next seven minutes to take control of the game. Ruddy led the surge with six points. The Engineers got within four, twice in the final 63 seconds, but each time Hobart made two free throws to push its advantage back to 6.
 
Chase Almond led RPI with 14 points and nine rebounds. Josh Dugas chipped in 11 points before fouling out in the final minute.
 
The Statesmen will be back in action on Saturday, Jan. 24, when they visit Skidmore for a 4 p.m. start.