PITTSFORD, N.Y. – The St. John Fisher College men's basketball team scored a season-high 91 points as the Cardinals defeated the Hobart College Statesmen on Tuesday, 91-81, in a non-conference battle inside Manning and Napier Varsity Gymnasium on Bobby Wanzer Court.  With the win, Fisher improved to 3-1 while Hobart dipped to 1-3 on the season.

The Statesmen struck first with a 3-pointer on their opening possession and maintained a lead through the first nine minutes of play until the Cardinals went on a 9-2 run fueled by three straight jumpers to give the home team a four-point edge, 21-17.  Hobart would counter, however, with a run of its own as the visitors scored eight unanswered points to turn a four-point deficit into a two possession lead with just over seven minutes remaining in the opening half.

Both teams continued to find their stride down the stretch as Fisher would reclaim the advantage after scoring five quick points and seven of the game's next 10 to knot the game up at 30-30.  With the score tied and 3:25 still showing on the clock, Hobart knocked down a jumper to make it 32-30 and pushed its lead to five points with a timely 3-pointer to make it 35-30.  Fisher worked its offense and trimmed the gap to one point after back-to-back buckets from Matt Asenjo and James Leone before a late free throw staked the Statesmen to a 36-34 margin heading into intermission.

Coming out of the break, Hobart added to its lead, but the Cardinals turned the tables with an 8-2 burst including six unanswered points to take a 42-40 lead.  From there, Fisher would take over on the offensive end of the floor as head coach Mike Grosodnoia II's squad reeled off 10 of the game's next 13 points including three from distance to open up a nine-point lead, 52-43.

Hobart would eventually pull to within three points with just under nine minutes remaining in the game before Sammy Robinson converted an old-fashioned three-point play to swing the momentum back in Fisher's direction.  Asenjo pushed Fisher's lead to seven points after Sean Williams found him at the top of the key for three to make it 68-61. 

As the half ticked down, Jordan Gilman buried a 3-pointer to give the Cardinals a double-digit cushion.  The Statesmen would make one final push and came to within seven points, but the Cardinals closed out the comeback bid with five straight points including another 3-pointer from Mark Valeriani to make it 81-69 with two minutes left to go.

Hobart resorted to fouling to try and conserve time, but the Cardinals were up to the task with 10 free throws over the final 1:46 to come away with the 91-81 win.

Four players finished in double figures for Fisher led by Asenjo who poured in a career-high 23 points to go along with two assists and a steal.  Leone added 14 points, eight rebounds and four steals in the win while Robinson chipped in with 14 points, eight boards and three steals of his own.  Ryan Henderson contributed 13 points and five rebounds and Williams finished with three points, five boards and four dimes.

The Cardinals are back in action at 8 p.m. on Thursday, December 6th when they host the University of Rochester in the annual Mark's Pizzeria Crosstown Shootout in Manning and Napier Varsity Gymnasium.