February 1, 2002

GENEVA, N.Y.—The Hobart College basketball team held a six-point lead with 2:15 remaining in the contest, but failed to convert any of its final five possessions, as Union scored the last seven points of the game to escape with a 70-69 victory. A career-high 30 points by junior forward Davidek Herron (Schenectady/Schenectady, N.Y.) was overshadowed by a late surge by the Dutchmen.

In a nip-and-tuck game that saw the score tied nine times and the lead change 13 times, neither team led by more than seven points. In the end, Union’s free throw shooting (14-of-18, .778) proved to be the difference, as the Statesmen (9-11, 4-5 in UCAA) converted just 10-of-21 (.476) from the charity stripe.

In the final three minutes, Hobart used a 6-0 run, paced by junior forward Joe Corbett (Haverford School/Philadelphia, Pa.), to break a 63-all tie. He scored four of his 22 points on the run including a pair of free throws that gave Hobart a 69-63 edge with 2:15 remaining.

That’s when Union’s leading scorer, senior Aaron Galletta (Roosevelt/Hyde Park, N.Y.), put the Dutchmen (13-6, 6-2) on his shoulders. The 6-foot-7 guard scored the game’s last seven points, including the game-winner, to keep Union atop the league standings. Galletta squashed Hobart’s upset bid with 1.9 seconds remaining, launching an awkward three-pointer that banked off the backboard, slammed into the front of the rim, ricocheted off the backboard again, before falling through the net for a 70-69 advantage.

For his part, Herron was spectacular, knocking down 13-of-21 from the floor, while grabbing a game-high nine rebounds. Corbett was just as exceptional, narrowly missing a triple-double, finishing with 22 points, nine rebounds, and seven assists.

Galletta paced three Dutchmen in double digits with 26 points. Junior forward Phillip Henry (Chaminade/Flushing, N.Y.) added 14 points, while senior forward C.J. Rogers (St. Rita/Chicago, Ill.) scored 10 points and grabbed nine boards before fouling out.

Hobart returns to action at 4 p.m., on Feb. 2, when Skidmore visits Bristol Gym. The Thoroughbreds fell to 5-14 on the season, and 0-8 in the UCAA with an 80-67 loss at Hamilton this evening.