GENEVA, N.Y. - Among the long list of goals that hangs on the wall in the Bard College men's basketball locker room is to make the Liberty League playoffs.

From the outside, that probably seemed far-fetched. Since joining the Liberty League in 2011, no Bard team has advanced to the conference playoffs in any sport. And this men's basketball squad was, once again, picked dead last in the preseason coaches' poll. Those on the inside, however, those close to the team, knew the playoffs were a real possibility.

Bard is in the Liberty League playoffs.

It was hardly a celebration on Saturday, because Bard had just dropped a thriller at Hobart, 83-80. But when the final score at RPI was posted, and Vassar had lost, Bard punched its ticket.

With two games remaining, the playoff seedings aren't set yet, but the field is. If the playoffs started today, No. 6 Bard would play at No. 3 Hobart in a quarterfinal game on Feb. 19. But the Raptors could improve their seeding before the regular season ends.

"At the start of the year, our vision was to get ourselves into the win-or-go-home segment of the season," said Bard coach Adam Turner. "This group has had the faith, trust in each other and the work ethic all year long."

The Raptors were down 10 at the half and down 13 early in the second half on Saturday at Hobart. But Bard put together a 14-0 run to take the lead, 55-52, with 11:12 remaining. Hobart stayed right there, the lead bounced back and forth a couple of times, and then a 13-5 run pushed Hobart's edge back to nine points, 77-68, with just 3:21 left.

Bard rallied again. An old-fashioned three-point play by Justyn Rogers made it 77-71. A fast break layup from Alijah Rue made it 77-73, and after Rogers drew a charge at the other end, Rue drove and scored to trim the deficit to 77-75 with 1:20 on the clock.

Armando Dunn blocked Hobart's next shot and started another fast break, and this time Rue found David Runcie for a layup, and it was all tied up, 77-77, with 46 seconds left.

Colin Dougherty (Lockport, NY) hit a driving layup on Hobart's next possession to make the score 79-77, and then the Statesmen got a huge block from Edens Fleurizard (Bridgeport, CT) on the other end with 23 seconds left. Dougherty made a pair of free throws with eight seconds left to make it 81-77, but Runcie hit a desperation three-pointer with 0.9 seconds left, making it 81-80. Dougherty sank two more foul shots to make it 83-80, and Rue's half court heave bounced off the backboard at the buzzer.

Fleurizard went 11-for-12 from the field and finished with 26 points and 16 rebounds for Hobart (14-9, 11-5). Dougherty and Tucker Lescoe (Denver, PA) added 18 points apiece.

Rogers led Bard with 21 points, eight rebounds and four steals. Rue had 17 points, six rebounds and 10 assists. Dunn and Runcie added 12 points apiece.

"We have developed a tough road mentality this year," Turner said. "So wherever it is, home or road, we know we can beat anyone in the league and we are excited to have that chance."

Bard finishes the regular season next weekend at home against Ithaca (Friday) and RIT (Saturday). Follow both games live right here.