The New York University men's basketball team was defeated by Hobart College 80-76 on Wednesday, November 13, at the Sportsplex in Manhattan.
NYU (0-2) led most of the way and took its final lead, 76-74, on
Jimmy Martinelli's (Glenview, IL/Glenbrook South) three-pointer with 1:03 remaining in the game.
However, Tucker Lescoe responded with a trey of his own for Hobart (1-0) with 49 seconds left and the Violets did not score again.
"I was really proud of the way we competed tonight," said Head Coach
Dagan Nelson. "But, they shot really well from three (70%) in the second half and that was the difference."
NYU never trailed in the first half and took its biggest lead of the game, 30-15, on
Miles Somerville's (Bowie, MD/Georgetown Prep) three-pointer with 8:08 left.
The Violets shot 53.1% (17-of-32) from the field and 57.1% (8-of-14) from three-point range over the first 20 minutes and took a 42-34 lead into halftime.
"It was a tale of two halves," Nelson said. "We shared the ball and really competed, but you have to give Hobart credit. Hats off to them"
NYU never trailed until Lescoe hit a three with 2:35 left, putting the Statesmen up 74-73. Martinelli's three-pointer soon followed, but the Violets' inability to score again clinched the victory for Hobart.
Martinelli finished with 18 points, 10 rebounds, two blocks, and a steal. Somerville also scored 18 points.
Harrison Whatley (Mount Pleasant, SC/Porter Gaud) also scored in double figures (13 points) for the Violets, while
Nick Macarchuk (Alamo, CA/St. Thomas Moore Prep) led the way with six assists.
Lescoe tallied a game-high 22 points.
"I told the team that we need to bottle this, put it in a bottle and take it on the road with us to Maine," Nelson added. "If we compete the same way we'll get a different outcome."
The Violets return to action this weekend when they compete in the Hampton Inn Jim Beaudry Classic hosted by the University of New England in Biddeford, ME. NYU will face Mitchell College in its opening game at 7:30pm on Saturday, November 16.
