ITHACA, N.Y. – The Ithaca College men's basketball team was dealt its first Liberty League loss of the season on Saturday afternoon inside Ben Light Gymnasium as Hobart College topped the Bombers, 91-81. With the setback, Ithaca is now 8-3 on the season and 3-1 in the Liberty League, while Hobart improves to 8-3 and 3-1.

It was a fast-paced contest early on, as the league foes played to a 7-7 tie within the opening three minutes of action. The Bombers then took the lead, 9-7, on a layup from junior Miles Herman, but Hobart responded with eight unanswered to take a 15-9 advantage at the 14:29 mark.

After an Ithaca timeout, Hobart extended its lead to 22-11 over the ensuing 2:25. The Bombers countered with a 7-0 to pull to within 22-18 with 10:07 to play in the half on jumpers from senior Joey Flanagan and junior Peter Ezema, and a 3-pointer by freshman Bryan Karl.

IC would cut Hobart's lead down to a single point after a block from Herman led to a transition 3-pointer by junior Matt Flood to make the score 25-24 with 7:39 left.

Another one-point difference took place on a layup from senior Marc Chasin, 27-26, less than a minute later, but the Statesmen would go on a 13-3 run to build a 41-29 edge with just over three minutes to go in the half.

The Bombers chipped away over the final 3:15 and pulled to within a 46-39 difference by intermission. Chasin scored six points during that time, while senior Carroll Rich and sophomore Riley Thompson each scored two points.

As the second half got underway, Hobart drilled a 3-pointer on its opening possession to reestablish a double-digit lead at 49-39. The disparity would fluctuate between eight and 11 points over the next six minutes until a layup from Flood brought the Bombers to within six at 60-54 with 13:34 remaining.

The Bombers then scored six straight points – all from freshman Cooper Macklin – to tie the game at 60-60 a minute later. Macklin netted 12 of his career-high 18 points in the second half and was a perfect 6-for-6 from the floor, including 5-for-5 from 3-point range.

After another deadlock at 62-62 at the 12:07 mark, the Statesmen poured in 10 consecutive points over a 3:15 stretch to go ahead, 72-62.

Ithaca was able to pull to within a 73-67 deficit on a three from Macklin and a pair of makes at the free throw line by Rich, but that was the closest the Bombers could get as Hobart closed out the game with 11 made free throws over the final six minutes.

Hobart held a distinct advantage at the line, making 26-of-36 attempts, compared to just 12-of-14 for Ithaca. The Statesmen also outrebounded the Bombers, 44-29, including 14 on the offensive end.

The Bombers went 30-for-66 (45.5-percent) in the game and handed out 17 assists. Hobart was 27-for-59 (45.8) overall and 11-for-23 (47.8%) from 3-point range.

Chasin finished the contest with 13 points and seven assists, while Herman added 10 points on 5-of-5 from the floor – two of which came on dunks. Rich and Ezema both tallied 10 points for Ithaca, while Ezema notched his 21st career double-double with 11 rebounds.

Ithaca will stay at home next Tuesday, January 9 for an 8 p.m. tip-off against RIT. Next week's game with mark the 105th all-time meeting (66-38 in favor of Ithaca) between the two schools, who will renew their rivalry from the Empire 8.