Box Score
Box Score

MIDDLEBURY, Vt. – Three players reached double figures, including a team-high 13 points from junior Tim Edwards to lead Middlebury to a 62-46 win over Rensselaer in non-conference men's basketball action on Tuesday. With the win, the Panthers improve to 8-2 while the Red Hawks fall to 4-4 on the season.

Middlebury, which led 34-30 after the opening period, dominated the visiting Red Hawks in the second stanza allowing just 16 points on 13.8% shooting from the floor.  Despite a game-best 25 points from senior Sam Simmons (Newburgh, NY/Newburgh Free Academy), RPI was unable to overcome the solid defensive effort.  

The Panthers jumped out to a 47-33 lead in the second half at the 14:52 mark on a layup by Edwards. Behind solid defense and a 6-0 scoring run, Middlebury led by as many as 19 points (53-34) before Simmons sank a layup at 10:30 to bring it to 53-36 in favor of the home team.

A pair of free throws by Simmons at the 5:43 mark, cut the RPI deficit to 13 points (53-40), but Middlebury continued to take advantage of costly Red Hawks' fouls and turnovers to increase its lead to 55-41 with just over four minutes remaining in the game.

Leading 59-43 with 1:16 to play, freshman Ryan Sharry (Braintree, MA/Boston College High School) sank one of two free throws to make it a 13-point lead once more. A layup by junior Ricky Philatre (Randolph, MA/Randolph) made it 60-45, but Sharry sank two more free throws in the ensuing drive to secure the win.

Despite opening up the game with an early lead, the visiting Red Hawks found themselves in a back and forth battle throughout the majority of the first half.

Holding a 16-10 lead, Rensselaer saw the homestanding Panthers begin to creep back into the game taking the 19-18 advantage at 8:50 on a jumper by senior Matt Westman (Newton, MA/Newton North).

Back-to-back buckets from Simmons helped RPI regain its lead (22-19), but Middlebury generated an 8-0 run of its own with four minutes to go as senior Ben Rudin (Scarsdale, NY/Scarsdale) and Edwards each nailed shots from beyond the arc.

The Panthers led 31-24 with three minutes on the clock, but Simmons capitalized on his own rebound and Brion sank a 3-pointer to cut the lead to 31-29. Despite 19 first-half points from Simmons, Rensselaer found itself down 34-30 at the intermission.

In addition to Edwards, who also had nine rebounds, Middlebury saw sophomore Andrew Locke (Seattle, WA/Lakeside School) add 12 points and nine rebounds. Sharry finished with 11 points.

For Rensselaer, Simmons posted 14 rebounds for the double-double. Sophomore Mike Brion (Nashua, NH/Bishop Guertin) added seven points and five boards.

The Red Hawks return to action this weekend at the Purple and Gold Classic, hosted by Williams College. RPI faces Kean on Friday night (6pm) and faces either Williams or CCNY on Saturday. Middlebury returns to action on Saturday at Hamilton (4pm).