Box Score

ALBANY, N.Y. – Senior forward Ricky Philatre (Randolph, MA/Randolph) recorded a double-double of 16 points and 16 boards to lead Rensselaer to an 82-62 victory over Sage College in the season opener for both programs.

The game marked the Sage men's basketball programs' first NCAA Division III contest after not fielding a team since the 2002-2003 season when they competed in the world of the National Junior College Association as the former Sage Junior College at Albany.

RPI would take a 37-29 lead into the locker room as junior guard Ike Rodriguez (San Antonio, TX/McCollum) added eight points in the first half after connecting on all three field goal attempts and adding a pair of treys.

The Engineers would own an 11-6 lead at 16:20 before Sage would tie the game for the first time at 13:03 on a jumper from freshman forward Matt Horne (Albany, NY/LaSalle Institute). Sage would take their first lead at 10:19 as freshman forward Alex King (Saratoga Springs, NY/Saratoga Springs) hit a pair of free throws. RPI would pull away after the fifth tie of the game at 21-21 (6:41) and own the lead at the half.

Philatre, who is also a team captain, shot 60% from the floor (6-10) in addition to his 16 points and 16 caroms (11 defensive). He was joined in double-digit scoring figures by senior forward Jeremy Colon (Manchester, NH/West) with 11 points, while senior forward Tim Rupp (Staten Island, NY/Curtis) added ten points with seven rebounds. Rupp handed out five assists and added two steals to his season opening effort.

Sage's Alex King would finish with a team-high 13 points while making five steals in his collegiate debut. He was joined in double-digit scoring by freshman guard Mervin Springer (Copiague, NY/Copiague) who netted 11 points off the bench and finished with a team-high seven boards.

Sage returns to action on November 17 in the program's first doubleheader as the men and women will both host Southern Vermont College in a 6 and 8 p.m. doubleheader in the Kahl Campus Center. RPI will host Cooper Union on November 20 in a 6 p.m. contest at ECAV Arena.