Box Score

POTSDAM, N.Y. – Junior forward Sam Simmons shot 9-for-11 from the floor to score a game-high 18 points, including 14 in the second half, as Rensselaer defeated the Clarkson University men’s basketball team, 67-49, in Liberty League play Friday night at Alumni Gymnasium.

RPI improved to 9-6 overall and evened its conference slate at 2-2, while the Golden Knights dropped their third straight contest to fall to 10-5 and 1-3.  Clarkson hosts Vassar on Saturday while Rensselaer travels to St. Lawrence.  Both games begin at 4pm.

Rensselaer played superior defense in the first 20 minutes, holding Clarkson to just 13.0% from the floor (3-for-23). The only three shots that Clarkson made in the half were on layups, though the home team was able to keep the game close with a 12-for-15 performance from the free throw line. Rensselaer also held a 22-15 advantage on the glass as neither team turned the ball over much (RPI – 5; Clarkson – 3).

The Red Hawks held Clarkson’s top three scorers, EJ Harrison, Erick Vigansky, and Jon Youngmann, to only seven points in the first 20 minutes, holding them to only 1-for-14 from the floor. Rensselaer had better luck, shooting 10-for-24, led by Graham Gordon, who led all scorers in the first half with six points while playing 11 minutes off the bench.

Leading by eight points after a three-point field goal from Clarkson’s Vigansky, Rensselaer rattled off a 12-2 run to take a 47-29 advantage with 12 minutes remaining in the second half.  Simmons converted all five of his field goal attempts for ten points during the run. While Clarkson was able to occasionally put the game back to within reach, Rensselaer’s lead remained in double digits, thanks in part to the team grabbing 11 of the final 14 rebounds in the last ten minutes.

Besides Simmons’ 18-point effort, Kyle Kowalczyk scored 13 points in 18 minutes off the bench for the Red Hawks. Erick Vigansky and Harrison both had 11 points, with Harrison also contributing six rebounds and five steals.

Rensselaer finished with a 39-24 edge in rebounds and shot 47.9% (23-for-48) from the field. Clarkson improved its shot percentage in the second half (12-for-25), but still finished at just 31.3% (15-for-48) for the game.