Box Score

CANTON, N.Y. - Senior Tim Rupp (Staten Island, NY/Curtis) recorded a team-best 19 points and five assists to lead the Rensselaer men's basketball team to a narrow, 75-71, victory over St. Lawrence in the Liberty League opener for both squads. With the win the Engineers improve to 9-2 overall (1-0 LL), while the Saints move to 4-8 (0-1).

Rupp shot 6 of 9 from the field (4-5 from three-point range), as junior Travis Jones (East Greenbush, NY/Columbia) followed with 13 points. Senior Ricky Philatre (Randolph, MA/Randolph) totaled nine points and a game high seven rebounds.

The Saints struggled from the floor in the first half as the Engineers moved out to seven point lead, six and half minutes into the frame. A pair of layups from Andy Hoercher, combined with a solid free-throw brought St. Lawrence back within a point of Rensselaer. Sophomore Ben Araya then gave the Saints the lead as he sunk a three to put his team up by two with ten minutes to play in the half.

RPI's Mike Brion (Nashua, NH/Bishop Guertin) responded with a layup that fueled a 12-0 run. With 6:25 left on the clock, RPI led by 13 points with a score of 31-18. The Engineers were able to increase their advantage to as much as 20 points with 47 seconds to play as Ike Rodriguez (San Antonio, TX/McCollum) and Rupp nailed consecutive three-pointers. Josh Sharlow and rookie Jack Conboy hit back-to-back layups to cut the deficit to 16 bringing the half to a close with the score, 43-27.

In the second half, the Scarlet and Brown decreased the deficit to from 18 to 8 within the opening eight minutes of the stanza. With 12 minutes left in regulation, Hoercher chipped one in off the glass to spark a 7-0 run for his team, bringing the Saints within a point of Rensselaer. The Engineers were able to maintain the lead, but St. Lawrence kept them in striking distance.

With 7:47 on the clock, RPI earned its last lead of over five points before the Saints closed the gap. Temgoua sunk back-to-back free throws to bring his team within one point with a score of 60-59. Jones posted three from beyond the arc, while Jeremy Colon (Manchester, NH/West) sunk a jumper to put the Engineers back up by five with five minutes remaining. Hoercher tipped one in from underneath to make the score 74-71, but Rupp closed the 75-71 game with a good free-throw before the clock ran out.

The Engineers are back on the court tomorrow afternoon, when they take on the Golden Knights of Clarkson (4pm).