SPRINGFIELD, Mass. — Hobart College put five players in double figures to defeat 14th-ranked University of Saint Joseph 78-74 to advance to the second round of the NCAA Division III Men's Basketball Championship. The Statesmen improved to 22-5. The Blue Jays saw their 25-game winning streak come to an end as they finish the year 26-3.
"I've got multiple plays fried into my brain that helped us win this game," Thompson said in the postgame press conference. "Sam Allen diving for that loose ball on the baseline, saving it and giving us an extra possession. Andrew Lynch at the end of the half, hitting a big three. We always talk about having everyone ready. I'm proud of the way we came together and I'm proud of the way we fought."
Sophomore guard Dan Masino led Hobart with 17 points, making 6-of-12 from the floor with three 3-pointers. Senior Tucker Lescoe added 16 points and broke a pair of records during the contest. Senior Sam Allen scored 13 points on an efficient 3-of-5 shooting with a pair of triples and a 5-for-6 effort at the free throw line. Sophomore Jackson Meshanic posted his seventh double-double of the season on 12 points and a game-high 13 rebounds. First-year Daniel Cook chipped in 11 points, making 7-of-9 at the charity stripe.
Hobart, which leads the nation in rebound margin (+12.7), once again controlled the glass, outrebounding USJ 42-31.
The Blue Jays came into the game averaging 90.4 points per game, but were held to their third lowest scoring total of the season, including a season-low 25 points in the first half. Sophomore Jaecee Martin led all scorers with 22 points and grabbed a team-high five rebounds. Junior Jordan Powell was the only other Saint Joseph player in double figures, logging 15 points.
The Statesmen also came into the game leading the nation in field goal percentage defense (.365) and harassed the Blue Jay shooters into their second worst effort of the season (.371).
Hobart won the opening tip and Lescoe broke his first record on the game's first possession. He hit a 3-pointer to raise his season total to 80, snapping a tie for the Statesmen season record that he shared with Michael Gambino '02. The opening 12 minutes of the game saw the lead sway back-and-forth as both sides looked for a weakness in their opponent. With about seven and half minutes left in the half, Martin's fast-break layup put Saint Joseph up three, 22-19.
From there, Hobart ended the half on a 15-3 run that sent them into the break with a 34-25 lead. Allen and Meshanic each had four points during the surge and Lynch drilled his 3-pointer with about 20 seconds to go.
Lescoe also scored the first points for Hobart in the second half, making his second from distance, giving him 294 for his career, surpassing the Liberty League record established by Union's Aaron Galletta. Meshanic followed with another triple to give the Statesmen their biggest lead of the game 40-27.
Hobart still led by 12 with 6:37 to go, but USJ didn't let the Statesmen relax. Over the next two minutes, the Blue Jays ripped off 10 straight points to make it a two-point contest. It was the first of four times that Saint Joseph got within two down the stretch, but each time Hobart got a clutch basket to keep the Blue Jays from having a chance to take the lead.
Masino stopped the 10-0 run with a jumper near the four-minute mark. Powell countered with a quick layup, but Lescoe struck back with the last of his long-range daggers.
Jalen Samuels sank two at the line with two and a half to go, cutting Hobart's edge to 63-61, but Meshanic converted a traditional 3-point play, pushing the lead back to five. With 1:20 to go, Martin made the second of two free throw attempts to make it a 66-64 game, but this time Cook converted an old fashion 3-point play.
Hobart closed out the program's third NCAA tournament win by going 9-of-12 at the line.
For the fourth time in five appearances in the NCAA tournament, Hobart will play in the second round. The Statesmen will face No. 17 Springfield (23-4) at 7:30 p.m. Saturday, March 7. The Pride defeated SUNY Canton 74-49.
It will be just the second meeting between the two programs and the first since 1997.