26-01-2002

GENEVA, N.Y. -The Hobart College basketball team survived a late comeBack to Hobart Basketball defeat Clarkson University, 69-64. Junior center Joe Corbett (Haverford School/Philadelphia, Pa.) recorded another dominating performance with a season-high 28 points and 19 rebounds. Junior forward Davidek Herron (Schenectady/Schenectady, N.Y.) also posted a double-double with 16 points and 10 rebounds.

In the early going, the Statesmen led by as many as five points, but red hot guard Ashton Fritz (Pitman/Pitman, N.J.) kept the Golden Knights in the game with 21 first half points. After briefly falling behind at the 7:41 mark, Hobart charged back with a 16-6 run, including seven from Corbett, for a 37-30 lead. The Statesmen's center finished the first 20 minutes with 12 points and 10 boards.

Hobart opened the second half strong grabbing the largest lead of the game at the 10:45 mark on a Corbett tip-in for a 56-42 advantage. A 17-5 run got Clarkson to within two, 61-59, at the 4:50 mark capped by three free throws from senior guard Steve Vega (Avon/Avon, Ohio). Clutch free throw shooting sealed the victory for the Statesmen as they sunk 6-of-8 from the line. Corbett was 4-of-6 during the final 2:25 as Hobart held on for the 69-64 victory.

Senior guard Michael Gambino (Our Lady of Lourdes/Hyde Park, N.Y.) also reached double-digits for the Statesmen with 13 points, while junior guard Tim Lomot (Amityville/Amityville, N.Y.) added eight points. Hobart controlled the boards with a 40-27 advantage.

Fritz led the Golden Knights (11-5, 4-3 UCAA) with 27 points before fouling out with 2:16 left. Vega finished 19 points and sophomore guard Josh Harner (The Woodlands/Houston, Texas) contributed 12 points.

The Statesmen (9-9, 4-3 UCAA) travel to Hamilton on Jan. 29, to face the Continentals at 8 p.m.