Box Score
Box Score

TROY, N.Y. – Sophomore Rey Jefferson (Budd Lake, NJ/Morristown Beard) made the second of two free throws with 1.5 seconds left in the second overtime to lift the Clarkson men's basketball team to an 80-79 victory over Rensselaer at Robison Gym. With the win the Golden Knights improve to 11-5 overall and 2-3 in the Liberty League. The Red Hawks move to 9-7 and 3-2 in conference play.

Clarkson junior Elson Pickering (Brooklyn, NY/Frederick Douglas Academy) hit a lay-up with under 30 seconds to go in regulation to knot the game at 64. After a quarter-court shot by RPI sophomore DJ Blakemore (Bloomfield Township, MI/Lahser) came up short, the game entered its first overtime.

In the first OT, Golden Knights senior guard Brian Salanger (Syracuse, NY/West Genesee) gave the visitors a four point lead (70-66) on a three-pointer with 1:44 to go. A pair of free throws from RPI junior Tim Rupp (Staten Island, NY/Curtis) brought the game to within two. On the ensuing possession for Clarkson, Jeremy Colon (Manchester, NH/West) was able to come with a steal with under 10 seconds to go. He found sophomore Jeremy Bull (Woodbridge, VA/St. Stephens & St. Agnes School) at mid-court. Bull dashed up the floor and got a right-handed lay-up off, moments before the buzzer, to send the game to 70-70 tie and a second overtime.

After the two team traded buckets to open second extra frame, Salanger hit a three from the corner to give Clarkson a 75-72 lead, just under a minute in. Blakemore answered with a three of his own for RPI, before Sam Simmons (Newburgh, NY/Newburgh Free Academy) gave the hosts the lead at 77-75, with 2:31 left.

A baseline jumper from Jefferson evened the game once again. Blakemore hit a runner in the lane on the Red Hawks' next trip to retake the lead at 79-77. Pickering then hit a six-footer for Clarkson setting up the final 30 seconds.

The Red Hawks ran the clock to 12 seconds, before Bull made a drive to basket. He was called for a travel after he got in trouble near the right block, turning the ball over to the Golden Knights with 9.4 remaining.

Brandon Linton (Queens, NY/Holy Cross) got a look at a free-throw line jumper that came off strong. Jeffferson then went up for the rebound and drew contact from Simmons with 1.5 ticks on the clock.. Jefferson's first free throw spun out, before he nailed the second for the one-point lead. Jefferson was able to break-up the Red Hawks' full-court inbounds pass to seal the win.

The Red Hawks were led offensively by Simmons who had a team-high 23 points, to go along with seven rebounds, six blocks, four steals and two assists. Blakemore added 18 points, four boards and three assists. Rupp and sophomore Mike Brion (Nashua, NH/Bishop Guertin) had 11 points apiece.

Pickering finished with a game-high 26 points and 10 rebounds for the Golden Knights. He was followed by Linton, who had 19 points and a game-high seven assists. Jefferson ended up with 12 points.

The Red Hawks return to action next Friday and Saturday, when they visit area-rivals Skidmore (8pm) and Union (4pm).