Box Score
Box Score

TROY, N.Y. – Senior Sam Simmons made 11 of 13 shots from the field on his way to a game-high 30 points to lead the Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI) men's basketball team to an 86-74 victory over Vassar College in a Liberty League game at Robison Gym.

With the win the Red Hawks improve to 13-10 overall and 7-5 in the conference and clinch a berth in the Liberty League Playoffs. RPI will be the third seed in the four-team event, which takes place on February 27-28 at the league's first place team. The Brewers fall to 9-14 and 4-8.

Simmons (Newburgh, NY/Newburgh Free Academy), the league's leading scorer and rebounder, came within one point of his career-high by making 11 field goals and 8 of 9 free throws. He also had eight rebounds, four steals, three blocked shots and an assist in 32 minutes of action. Simmons now has 1,310 career points and 658 career rebounds.

Rensselaer, which shot 51.8% from the field as a team, held a 47-37 halftime lead thanks in part to a 26-16 run over the final 9:21 of the first stanza. Simmons had 16 first half points and sophomore Mike Brion (Nashua, NH/Bishop Guertin) scored 10 for the Red Hawks, who made 18 of 30 shots (60.0%) in the opening half. Senior Brian Butterworth (Hamilton, MA/Hamilton-Wenham) helped keep the Brewers close with three first half three-pointers, including two in the final 1:13.

Vassar pulled to within eight points, 53-45, on a Butterworth three-pointer five minutes into the second half but could get no closer. RPI countered with a 7-2 run and led by double digits for virtually the rest of the contest.

In addition to Simmons, junior Ricky Philatre (Randolph, MA/Randolph) recorded a double-double of 11 points and 11 rebounds, while Brion finished with 12 points. Junior Tim Rupp (Staten Island, NY/Curtis) had 10 points for RPI, which has won three of its last four games.

The Brewers, who shot 35.5% from the floor, had four players reach double figures in scoring, led by Butterworth's 17 points. Freshman Caleb McGraw (Sitka, AK/Mount Edgecumbe) scored 15, while Lenny Holt (Watertown, MA/Watertown) had 14 points, three assists and four steals. Joe Davis (East Amherst, NY/St. Joseph's Institute) added 12 points.

RPI closes out the regular season with league games at Clarkson and St. Lawrence this Friday and Saturday. Vassar also heads to the North Country for a pair of games. Friday's contests begin at 8pm and Saturday's action is at 4pm.