Box Score / Post-Game (Video)

TROY, N.Y. – The Rensselaer men's basketball team held Clarkson to 34.5% shooting in defeating the Golden Knights, 59-53, this evening at East Campus Arena. With the win the Engineers improve to 12-6 overall and 4-4 in the Liberty League, while Clarkson falls to 10-10 and 4-5 in the conference.

RPI used a 10-0 run to close out the first half, taking a 28-24 lead into the break. Senior Ricky Philatre (Randolph, MA/Randoph) had a game-high eight first half points on 3 of 4 shooting from the floor. Junior Jonathan Hood (Cortland Manor, NY/Walter Panas) led Clarkson with five points and five rebounds at the break.

In the second half, the Engineers tightened defensively, as the Golden Knights shot just 9 of 28 (32.1%) from the field, including 1 of 6 (16.7%) from beyond the arc. Rensselaer never trailed in the final frame, although Clarkson did pull to within two on numerous occasions.

A lay-up by junior Mike Hammond (Clifton Park, NY/Shenendehowa) gave the hosts a 38-32 advantage with 13:58 to go in the game.

The Engineers trailed by no fewer than four points over the next four minutes, but a lay-in by Clarkson senior Elson Pickering (Brooklyn, NY/Frederick Douglass Academy) and a three-pointer from junior Rey Jefferson (Budd Lake, NJ/Morristown Beard) trimmed the RPI lead to three (44-41) with 9:02 on the clock.

RPI senior Tim Rupp (Staten Island, NY/Curtis) answered with a bucket on the ensuing possession, but Pickering fought back with a triple make it a two-point game (46-44). After the teams traded baskets, Philatre hit one of two free throws to the Engineers' advantage to 49-46 with 5:43 remaining.

Junior Jeremy Bull (Woodbridge, VA/St. Stephens & St. Agnes School) then scored four straight points on a pair of free throws and a lay-up, before Rupp pushed Rensselaer's lead to the largest of the second half (55-46). Stealing a pass at the top of the key, he cruised in for the easy basket with 1:52 to go.

Philatre led the Engineers with 11 points to go along with five rebounds and a steal. Freshman Daniel Martin (Cohasset, MA/Cohasset) chipped in with nine points, three boards and his team-leading 39th blocked shot of the season. Bull finished with eight points, while going 4 for 4 from the free-throw line.

The Golden Knights were paced by 11 points from Pickering. Hood recorded a double-double with 10 points and a game-high 11 rebounds, including three offensive boards.

The Engineers return to action tomorrow afternoon, when they host St. Lawrence (4pm). The Golden Knights visit Vassar (4pm).