January 11, 2002

GENEVA, N.Y.-The Hobart College men's basketball team made the NCAA Tournament for the first time in 2001, and for the beginning of the 2001-02 season the Statesmen seemed to be struggling with the weight of that success. If their Upstate Collegiate Athletic Association opener is any indication, the Statesmen have found the solution.

Hobart (6-6, 1-0) never trailed the visiting Vassar College Brewers, en route to a convincing 79-50 victory. The Statesmen controlled the play from start to finish, boasting a 43-21 advantage on the glass, and shooting a scorching 54 percent from the floor (32-of-59), while limiting Vassar (6-4, 0-1) to just 37.5 percent (21-of-56).

The teams traded baskets in the early going, forging four ties on the way to a 10-10 contest with 13:48 remaining in the first half. That's when Hobart took control. The Statesmen used a 14-0 run that epitomized teamwork to build a 24-10 lead.

Junior center Joe Corbett (Haverford School/Philadelphia, Pa.) sparked the run with a layup and a blocked shot on the Brewers' next possession. Senior guard Brian Schiele (St. Anthony's/Seaford, N.Y.) and junior guard Tim Lomot (Amityville/Amityville, N.Y.) sandwiched three pointers around a Davidek Herron (Schenectady/Schenectady, N.Y.) layup.

Herron, who finished with a game-high 18 points and 12 rebounds, was the only player to score twice in the run, following Lomot's trifecta with another layup. Sophomore guard Brad Strait (Fort Plain/Fort Plain, N.Y.) closed out the run with two of his career-high eight points.

The Statesmen took a nine-point lead into the locker room and led by 10 midway through the final frame, before Hobart used a 10-0 run to ice the Brewers.

Corbett, who began the week ranked 13th in Division III in rebounding, turned in one of his most complete performances of the season, scoring 16 points, grabbing 12 caroms, and blocking a career-best four shots. He connected on 8 of his 11 shots from the floor and needs just 13 points to become the 17th Statesman to reach the 1,000-point plateau.

Schiele and senior guard Michael Gambino (Our Lady of Lourdes/Poughkeepsie, N.Y.) also reached double digits with 11 points apiece.

First-year forward Matthew Parker (Highland/Highland, N.Y.) led the Brewers with 10 points.

Hobart returns to action on Jan. 12, at 4 p.m., when it hosts Rensselaer in a rematch of last season's UCAA Championship game, a contest the Statesmen won, 67-58.