Nov 22, 2013
GENEVA, N.Y.—Junior guard Connor Rehbaum scored a game-high 25 points to lead the Hobart College basketball team to a 76-67 win over Ithaca College in Bristol Gym tonight. The Statesmen (2-0) never trailed after the 17:45 mark of the first half on the way to their 14th consecutive home court victory.
Rehbaum was 8-of-16 from the floor with two 3-pointers and 7-of-10 at the free throw line. He also collected six rebounds and matched his career-high with four steals. Senior forward Richie Bonney added 16 points, a team-high nine rebounds, three steals, two assists, and two blocked shots. Junior guard Trey Blanding made a career-high eight free throws on his way to a career-high 14 points and first-year guard Pete Drescher contributed nine rebounds, three points and two steals off the bench.
Ithaca (1-3) also put three players in double figures in the scoring column. Senior forward Frank Mitchell had a team-high 16 points and a game-high 11 rebounds. Sophomore guard Sam Bevan posted 14 points and a game-high five assists while sophomore guard Joey Ross added 13 points off the bench.
The Bombers scored the night's first basket and traded scores with the Statesmen on the way to a 6-4 lead for the visitor's. Rehbaum and senior guard Joe Gibbons bookended a 9-0 run with 3-pointers to build a lead they would not relinquish. Hobart stretched its advantage to as many as 17 in the first half (35-18 with 5:31 left) and carried a 39-28 advantage into halftime.
The Statesmen shot 44.4 percent from the floor, making four 3-pointers, and 3-of-5 at the line, in the first 20 minutes. The Bombers shot just 34.5 percent, making 1-of-5 from long range, and sinking 7-of-13 freebies. Bonney led all scorers with 13 points in the first half.
Rehbaum broke the game open with a pair of fast-break baskets early in the second half. On back-to-back trips down the floor, he stepped in front of an Ithaca pass at the top of the key and glided in uncontested for layups, igniting a 12-0 Hobart run.
Ithaca fought to the very end, getting within seven twice in the final 30 seconds, but got no closer.
The Statesmen finished the game plus seven on the glass (43-36) and plus six in turnovers (9-15). Hobart didn't make a basket in the final seven minutes, but didn't have to, converting enough free throws to ice the victory.
Hobart will be back in action on Tuesday, Nov. 26, when the Statesmen visit Buffalo State. Tipoff is scheduled for 7 p.m. The Bombers visit Wells tomorrow for a 2 p.m. tip.