Box Score
Box Score

TROY, N.Y. – The Rensselaer men's basketball team shot 62.5% from the floor – including 70.4% in the first half – on its way to defeating Wentworth, 84-71, at Robison Gym. With the win, the Red Hawks improve to 4-3 on the season, while the Leopards fall to 1-7 overall.

Rensselaer came out shooting early in the first half. After allowing the first basket of the game to Leopards senior Brad Bryant (Livermore, ME/Livermore Falls), the Red Hawks scored 21 of the next 31 points to open up a nine point lead with 9:49 to play in the opening frame.

The offensive rebounding of the Leopards kept them in the game early. Junior Matt Abbott (Falmouth, MA/Falmouth) led the way scoring on a number of put-backs and finished with a game-high six offensive boards.

Wentworth cut the deficit to four (21-17) at the 8:44 mark on a three-pointer by senior Todd Doyle (Mystic, CT/Fitch), but RPI had an answer, scoring three straight baskets, including a three-pointer by sophomore Mike Brion (Nashua, NH/Bishop Guertin) to push its lead to 11 (28-17) with 6:36 left in the first.

The Red Hawks took their biggest lead of the half at 43-28, with 1:38 to go, on an offensive rebound and lay-up by senior Kyle Jung (Goshen, NY/Goshen). A Bryant free throw with a minute left brought the score to 43-29 at the break.

In the second half, RPI sophomore Jeremy Bull (Woodbridge, VA/Stephens & St. Agnes School) finished a lay-up with 16:18 left to give the Red Hawks their largest lead of the game at 17 (50-33). The Leopards got to within 12 (55-43) on a Bryant hoop at 12:57, but did not get any closer the rest of the game.

Leading a balanced attack for Rensselaer was senior Sam Simmons (Newburgh, NY/Newburgh Free Academy) who had a double-double with 15 points and 10 rebounds. Junior Tim Rupp (Staten Island, NY/Curtis) recorded 10 points, five boards and a game-high five assists. All 13 Red Hawks who attempted at least one shot scored, including juniors Rick Philatre (Randolph, MA/Randolph) and Jeremy Colon (Manchester, NH/West) who had eight points apiece.

Doyle paced Wentworth offensively, finishing with a game-high 22 points on 8-9 shooting from the floor. He was 2 for 2 from the beyond the arc, and 4 for 4 from the line. Three other Leopards scored in double figures, including junior Shane West (Saco, ME/Milford) with 13 points and six rebounds, Abbott with 12 points and a team-high nine boards and freshman Brendan Monteiro (Brockton, MA/Catholic Memorial) who had 11 points and a team-best three steals.

The Red Hawks are idle until December 30, when the visit Middlebury (7pm). The Leopards travel to Las Vegas, Nevada, to take part in the Las Vegas Hoopa on December 18 and 19.