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TROY, N.Y. – Senior Tim Rupp's three-pointer at the buzzer sealed a dramatic victory for the Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI) men's basketball team as they came from behind to defeat Hamilton by a score of 67-66 in the season finale for both teams. The Engineers improve to 15-9 overall and 7-7 in conference play, while the Continentals drop to 10-14 and 6-8 in the Liberty League.

Down 63-56 with 32 seconds remaining, RPI mounted its comeback as senior Jeremy Colon (Manchester, NH/West) sank a three-pointer to cut the Hamilton lead to four (63-59). With nine seconds on the clock and the possession arrow in their favor, the Engineers pulled to within two points as Rupp (Staten Island, NY/Curtis) got the rebound off his own inbound and sank a jumper while drawing a foul.

Rupp's ensuing free throw went in, but a late foul by senior Eric Anderson (Merrimack, NH/Merrimack) sent Hamilton's Jay Simpson (Fort Washington, MD/Saint John's College) to the line, who sank both free throws for a 65-63 lead. After a pair of free throw makes by Anderson at the other end, Simpson once again went to the line and drained a shot as Hamilton retained its two-point advantage (66-64).

With just 2.7 seconds on the clock, RPI pulled off a double-inbound and sent a long arching pass down the court to Rupp. The forward was able to grab ahold of it in traffic and make the three-point shot, off-balance, before the buzzer sounded to give the Engineers the dramatic come from behind victory.

Rensselaer opened the game with the advantage and led by as many as six (14-8) before the Continentals took control mid-way through the frame. Led by Rosenbrand, who had 11 first half points, Hamilton went on a 6-0 run and led 34-27 with 2:21 remaining in the half. The Engineers were able to close the gap behind three-pointers from junior Rashad Simmons (Valrico, FL/Bloomingdale) and Anderson to make it a 1-point game at the half.

Leading the way for RPI on Senior Day was Rupp, who recorded a game-high 25 points on 9 of 12 shooting. He went 4 of 5 from three-point range, while adding six boards, two steals and a game-best five assists. Colon added 15 points, going 3 of 3 from beyond the arc, while Anderson added 11 points and four assists. Additionally, senior Ricky Philatre (Randolph, MA/Randolph) chipped in eight points and a game-best 10 rebounds in the win.

As a team, the Engineers were 8 of 18 (44.4%) from 3-point range, including 5 of 10 (50.0%) in the second half.

Hamilton saw four players reach double figures, including Rosenbrand and junior Pat Sullivan (Madison, NJ/Delbarton School), who each posted 16 points. Sullivan also had nine rebounds. Simpson added 15 points, while senior Joe Manns (Fieldale, VA/Carlisle School) had 12 points.