Joe Corbett '03

January 21, 2003

GENEVA, N.Y.—The Hobart College basketball team won its fourth straight game this evening, but not before sweating through a dramatic comeback and an overtime session. The Statesmen defeated Utica College 68-62 behind the double-double effort of senior forward Joe Corbett (Haverford School/Philadelphia, Pa.). The UCAA Forward of the Week scored a game-high 26 points on 10-of-16 shooting, and pulled down a game-high 17 rebounds, while handing out a game-high six assists.

Hobart (5-7) led 25-22 at halftime and ballooned that lead to 10 by the 9:39 mark of the second half, but the Pioneers (5-7) refused to roll over. Utica, paced by first-year forward Willie Lucas (Nazareth/Brooklyn, N.Y.), used an 8-0 run to whittle the Statesmen lead to just two. Lucas netted six of his team-high 18 points during the spurt.

The Pioneers continued to hang close, claiming their first second half lead with 1:49 left in regulation. A pair of Lucas free throws pushed that advantage to 55-52 with 25 seconds remaining.

Hobart’s three-point attempt to tie with 17 ticks on the clock was off the mark and an off-balance senior guard Marquis Jones (Binghamton/Binghamton, N.Y.) collected the rebound, and threw a wild pass under the Statesmen basket to avoid a turnover. Senior guard Tim Lomot (Amityville/Amityville, N.Y.) grabbed the freebie and laid it in with 11 seconds to go.

On the inbounds pass, Hobart fouled Jones, who sank 1-of-2 from the line to stake Utica to a two-point lead with nine seconds remaining. Junior guard Trevor McAndrew (Northfield-Mt. Hermon/Westerly, R.I.) drove the length of the floor and headed straight for the hoop, dishing off to Corbett at the last second, who finished a wide-open bunny to force overtime.

In OT, Hobart’s frontcourt tandem of Corbett and senior Davidek Herron (Schenectady/Schenectady, N.Y.) took over. Both players netted four points apiece, while Herron also grabbed two rebounds and blocked two shots, finishing with 19 points, seven rebounds, and four blocked shots.

First-year guard Marques Rhodes (Brewster Academy/Albany, N.Y.) added 10 points, three assists, and a blocked shot for the Statesmen.

First-year guard Justin Cichon (New Hartford/New Hartford, N.Y.) and Jones also reached double digits for Utica, with 16 and 13 points, respectively.

Hobart returns to conference play on Jan. 24, at Skidmore. Tip off is scheduled for 6 p.m.