GENEVA, N.Y.—The Hobart basketball team avenged an earlier loss to Skidmore this afternoon with an 85-79 victory in Bristol Gym, extending its winning streak to three games.
Matt Pebole, who missed the first meeting with an injury, led the way with a game-high 19 points and six rebounds.
The Statesmen (12-8, 5-4) started the game on a 9-2 run, including seven from Pebole.
Rezin Davis hit a three at the 12:39 mark to give Hobart its first 10-point lead, 24-14.
A 9-2 swing by Skidmore (13-8, 6-4) got the visitor’s within three, Raoul Oloa bookended the surge with three-pointers on his way to a 12-point effort.
The Statesmen went into the break on 6-1 run, leading 48-40. Pebole led all scorers with 11 in the first half.
Hobart stretched its lead to as many as 17 points in the second half, before the Thoroughbreds made an ill-fated comeback bid.
Sean Peer made two free throws with 5:49 remaining to raise the Statesmen lead to 78-66. Peer had five points, four rebounds, and two blocked shots.
Skidmore scored the game’s next nine points, including five from Terron Victoria, to make it a three-point game with 1:50 to go.
Pebole made two free throws at the other end of the floor to make it a two possession lead for the Statesmen. Sakhile Sithole countered with a layup to make it a three point deficit with 1:25 to go, but
Stefan Thompson answered with a layup of his own to complete an 18-point game. Sithole had nine points and a game-high 12 points.
Victoria, who finished with a team-high 13 points, again made it a three-point difference with 29 seconds left, but Davis (14 pts) scored the final three points of the game to close out the victory.
Hobart's
Tim Llewellyn added 14 points and a game-high six assists before fouling out.
The Thoroughbreds also got double digit performances from Kyle Clark, Gerard O’Shea, and Melvis Langyintuo on 11, 10, and 10 points, respectively.
The Statesmen will be back in action on Feb. 9, when they host Hamilton (8-11, 4-5). Tipoff is scheduled for 8 p.m. Skidmore will return home for a Feb. 12 contest against Rensselaer (13-6, 5-4).