The Hobart College basketball team used a stifling defensive effort to post a convincing 75-41 win over Liberty League rival Rochester Institute of Technology in Bristol Gym tonight. The Statesmen needed less than seven minutes to push their lead into double digits for good, limiting the Tigers to season lows for points and shooting percentage.
RIT's Jameel Balenton scored the first basket of the game, but sophomore guard Connor Rehbaum put Hobart in front for good with a 3-pointer at the other end of the floor. The Statesmen finished the game with a season-high matching eight 3-pointers. While the Tigers were 1-for-10 from the floor in the opening six minutes, Hobart slipped out to a 9-2 lead.
J.P. Reagan stopped the scoreless streak with a traditional 3-point play at the 13:47 mark, but the Statesmen got back-to-back buckets from junior forward Richie Bonney, a trey by senior guard Rezin Davis, and then another layup from Bonney to extend their lead to 15 just 6:54 into the game. Hobart led by no fewer than 11 points and by as many as 21 for the remainder of the first half, taking a 40-19 lead into halftime.
The Statesmen opened the second half on an 11-2 run and maintained a lead that fluctuated between 23 and 36 points until the final buzzer sounded. Hobart shot 48.1 percent from the floor for the game, connecting on 8-of-15 from beyond the arc. The Statesmen defense kept RIT's shooters to just 26.2 percent shooting.
Bonney produced game-highs of 15 points, nine rebounds, and three assists. Senior guard Stefan Thompson added 11 points and sophomore guard Trey Blanding chipped in 10 points off the bench. Hobart played all 12 men on its roster with 11 cracking the scoring column.
Reagan paced the Tigers with 10 points off the bench. Balenton contributed seven points.
The Statesmen will play their final non-conference game of the regular season on Saturday, Jan. 12, when they visit Ithaca for a 4 p.m. tipoff. RIT will look to halt a three-game slide at league rival Rensselaer at 8 p.m. on Friday, Jan. 11.