Box Score

MIDDLEBURY, Vt. - Led by a double-double effort of 18 points and 13 rebounds from junior Ryan Sharry, the Middlebury men's basketball team defeated Rensselaer, 77-60, in non-conference action on Sunday.  With the win, the fifth-ranked Panthers remain undefeated on the season, improving to 7-0.  The Engineers move to 6-3 overall.

Trailing 18-17 in the first half, Middlebury went on a 17-1 run to pull away from visiting Rensselaer, which held an early 11-5 advantage capped by a lay-up by Jeremy Moylan at 15:25.

The teams traded leads five times before Middlebury went on its decisive run. After the Engineers' Mike Hammond's jumper at the 9:50 mark, Sharry scored the next seven points of the game. A lay-in by Peter Lynch ended the run as the Panthers held a 35-19 advantage with 4:41 left in the half.

The Panther defense was stellar during the remaining 9:50 of the first half, holding the Engineers to 0/8 shooting from the floor, while forcing five turnovers. Excellent free throw shooting by Rensselaer kept the Engineers close, hitting 11/12 during the span as the Panther held a 47-29 lead at intermission.

Middlebury opened the second half on a 15-4 run, as seven different Panthers got involved in the scoring. Jake Wolfin notched four of his career-best 12 assists during the spurt. The Panther defense maintained its pressure, holding the Engineers to .286 from the floor in the second half, as Middlebury cruised to the 77-60 victory.

In addition to Sharry, Nolan Thompson added 11 from the floor and hit 3/6 from behind the arc, while Wolfin dished out a game-high 12 assists. For the game, Middlebury handed out 22 assists to the Engineers eight, while holding a 50-40 rebounding advantage.

Matthew Pooley and Hammond paced Rensselaer with 10 points apiece.

The Panthers are back on the court on Tuesday with an 8pm match at Plattsburgh.  RPI is in action on Monday, hosting Stevens Institute at ECAV Arena at 7pm.