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TROY, N.Y. - Junior Hunter Merryman scored 23 points with 13 rebounds - both game-highs - to lead the Middlebury College men's basketball team to a 92-79 victory over Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI) in a non-league game at East Campus Arena. The 19th-ranked Panthers, who used a 16-7 run early in the second half to build a double-digit lead, improve to 4-2. The Engineers fall to 0-4.

Merryman (San Marino, CA / Polytechnic) made 10 of 14 shots from the field, including 3 of 4 from three-point range, to go with two offensive rebounds and 11 defensive boards. He also had five assists and a steal. Four others also scored at least 10 points for the Panthers, who shot 53.1% from the field (17 of 32)  and 87% from the free throw line (20 of 23).

Following a first half that featured runs from both teams, Middlebury turned a 44-41 halftime lead into a 60-48 advantage 5:52 into the second half. Merryman had seven points in that span, while senior Joey Kizel (Short Hills, NJ / Millburn) added five. The Panthers never led by fewer than nine points from that point forward.

Kizel finished the contests with 14 points, nine rebounds (1 offensive), a game-high seven assists and three steals in 35 minutes. Freshman Matt St. Amour (Swanton, VT / Missisquoi) also scored 14 points, Jake Nidenberg (Brooklyn, NY / St. Ann's) added 12 points with five rebounds in only 16 minutes, and James Jensen (North White Plains, NY / Valhalla) scored 10 points.

RPI saw 13 players score, led by junior Josh Dugas (Monroe, CT / St. Luke's), who had 12 points. Sophomore Tyler Gendron (Merrimack, NH / Merrimack) added 11 points and seven rebounds. Sophomore Brian Hatcher (Danbury, CT / Immaculate) led the Engineers with nine rebounds, including six offensive. He also had eight points.

Rensselaer is back on the court on Tuesday when it visits No. 10 Williams College for a non-league game at 7pm. Middlebury hosts in-state rival Castleton on Tuesday beginning at 7:30pm.