Box Score

TROY, N.Y. – The Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI) men’s basketball team went on a 17-4 run to open the second half, and defeated Union, 69-50, at Robison Gym this afternoon. With the win, The Red Hawks improve to 8-10 overall and 3-4 in Liberty League play. The Dutchmen fall to 4-13 overall, including an 0-7 mark in the conference.

In a first half that saw three ties and six lead changes, neither team shot very well from the floor. RPI finished at 36.1%, while Union ended the half at 34.4%. A Ryan Alexander (Hempstead, NY/St. Mary’s) jumper with 6:26 remaining in the first, gave Union its largest lead of the game at 19-16.

RPI senior Kris Kowalczyk (Troy, NY/Colonie) hit a three-point shot as time expired to give the Red Hawks a 31-29 halftime advantage. Dutchmen junior guard Steve Madej (Burnt Hills, NY/Burnt Hills-Ballston Lake) made 2-3 three pointers in the opening 20 minutes, and led all scorers at the break with eight points.

The Red Hawks opened the second half on their run that gave them a 48-33 lead with 12:13 to go in the game. Freshman Mike Brion (Nashau, NH/Bishop Guertin) gave Rensselaer its largest lead of day at 55-35 on a lay-up with 7:17 remaining.

Union guard Joey Lokitas (Norton, MA/Phillips Academy) hit a three with 4:23 left to cut the deficit to 55-44, but the Red Hawks pushed their advantage back to 15 on a pair of free throws by Henrik Schou (Copenhagen, Denmark/EB Ersteinska) at the 2:14 mark.

Kowalczyk led all scorers with 18 points. Sam Simmons (Newburgh, NY/Newburgh Free Academy) added 14 points and six rebounds, while Sam Zullo (Indian Lake, NY/Boardalbin-Perth) chipped in with seven points and a game-high five assists.

Three Dutchmen finished with a team-high ten points, including Madej, Lokitis and freshman Drew Goldstein (Philadelphia, PA/The Haverford School).

Rensselaer is back in action next Friday and Saturday, when it visits Hamilton and Williams Smith, respectively.