Box Score

POUGHKEEPSIE, N.Y. - Senior guard Matthew Pooley poured in a career-best 27 points for the third time this season in leading the Rensselaer men's basketball team past Vassar, 100-89 in Liberty League action on Tuesday.  With the victory, the Engineers moved to 10-10 overall and 7-5 in conference action.  The Brewers are now 6-14 with a 2-9 mark in the Liberty League.

Pooley powered the Engineers in the first half, netting 17 points to give the visitors a 43-35 advantage through the first 20 minutes of play.  Rensselaer continued to lead throughout the start of the second half until the 14:30 mark when Johnny Mrlick nailed a three-point shot to make it a 1-point (51-50) game.

RPI was able to gain momentum back over the next few minutes as a five-point play by junior Brendan Farley, which included a layup and three-pointer, pushed the lead back to seven (59-52) with 12:51 remaining in the game.  The teams continued to trade buckets, but the Engineers broke through and made it a double-digit lead at the 10:17 mark behind a three-pointer from Nick Keefe. 

It was a double-digit lead Rensselaer would continue to hold until 5:23 remaining in the game as Mrlick hit another three-pointer to make it 85-78.  The game, which saw a combined 23 three-pointers, including 14 from the visting Engineers, played out in RPI's favor near the end of the contest as it went to the free throw line eight times, connecting on four tries.

As a team, the Engineers shot a solid 56.9% (33 for 58) from the field, boasting a 60.9% margin (14 for 23) from three-point range.  In addition to Pooley, who also added five assists and a game-best four steals, RPI saw four others reach double-figures.  Farley added 15 points, while senior Jamie Zajac chipped in with 12 points and five assists.  Junior Redon Qello added 11 points and a team-best seven rebounds, while senior Matt Dixon chipped in with 10 points on the night.

For Vassar, Mrlick poured in a game-best 32 points with seven rebounds.  Jon Herzog added 18 points, while Alex Snyder added 14 points on the evening.  Additionally, Evan Carberry chipped in with a game-high 11 rebounds, while Nicholas Justiz had a game-best 11 assists.

RPI is back on the court on Friday, traveling to Rochester to face RIT at 8pm.  Vassar also returns to action on Friday at Clarkson for an 8pm match against the Golden Knights.