GENEVA, N.Y. – Powered by a game-best 26 points from Jackson Meshanic, the Hobart College men's basketball team notched a 75-64 victory over Vassar College in Liberty League action on Saturday from Bristol Gym. The Statesmen improve to 6-3 overall and are 1-1 in league play, while the Brewers shoulder just their second loss of the season, moving to 4-2 while also holding a 1-1 Liberty League mark.

A slow start to the game quickly picked up as the homestanding Statesmen used a 6-0 run midway through the stanza to build up a 12-5 advantage. Vassar senior guard Jack Rothenberg broke up the run, but a countering layup from Meshanic saw Hobart continue to hold the advantage (14-7) with around 13 minutes to play.

The Brewers saw senior guard Zev Katz lay down a three-pointer, along with a pair of free throw makes, pulling the score to within two (14-12) at 12:54, but Vassar continued to struggle in holding off Meshanic as he dropped in back-to-back shots for a six-point (18-12) lead with 11:57 on the clock.

Late in the stanza, following a three-point play from Meshanic, the Brewers mounted a comeback as sophomore guard Luke Adams dropped in a layup, followed by a Rothenberg trey to pull the score to 28-25. Hobart continued to hit its shots, but the Brewers battled back, capitalizing on several offensive fouls against the home team. Vassar took advantage at 3:29 as senior guard Kevin McAuliffe hit a long-distance three to make it a 31-30 game. The Statesmen once again gained the lead, but a step-back jumper from Adams saw the game tied at 33 all with 2:15 to go. Despite the momentum for the Brewers, they were unable to hold off Hobart, which saw Aidan Rodgers drain a three, followed by a layup in the final 17 seconds by Evan Goldberg as time expired with the Statesmen up 38-33 at halftime.

Out of the intermission, Meshanic continued to cause trouble for the Brewers, scoring the first four points of the frame for a 42-33 lead in the opening two minutes. A driving layup by senior captain Avni Mustafaj helped close the gap, but a Patrick Walker hook shot saw the Statemen bring the margin back to nine (44-35) at 17:45.

The Statesmen nailed their fifth three-pointer of the contest to gain their first double-digit lead of the game as Rodgers sank the shot from downtown for the 47-35 score with 16:34 to play. A three-pointer from McAuliffe saw the score close to 47-38, but another driving layup from Meshanic, along with a free throw make opened a 50-38 margin with 14:38 left.

Foul troubles plagued the Brewers midway through the contest as back-to-back fouls sent Meshanic to the line for a pair of makes. Rothenberg answered for the Brewers, laying down a layup, following up a minute later with a three to cut the deficit to 11 (52-43) with 12:20 remaining.

Hobart continued to match baskets with the Brewers, but Vassar also kept pace as consecutive buckets from junior forward Logan Scott narrowed the home team lead to 63-56 with 6:18 left in the contest. Despite the momentum, the Brewers defense was unable to hold off the Statesmen offense, which continued to take advantage of a number of Vassar fouls down the stretch to go to the line and widen the lead further for the league victory.

Meshanic added seven rebounds, an assist and a steal, while Rodgers chipped in with 14 points, four boards and four assists. Carter Meshanic had 11 points in the game.

The Brewers were paced by 13 points apiece from both Mustafaj and McAuliffe. Mustafaj added two boards and three assists, while McAuliffe had two assists. Rothenberg dropped in 12 points, adding five boards, three assists, a block and a steal, while Adams had 11 points on the afternoon.

Vassar will play its final contest before the holiday break on Tuesday, hosting Union College at AFC Gym for a 7:30pm tilt.