Box Score

TROY, N.Y. - Senior Jamie Zajac made two free throws with 3.9 seconds remaining in regulation to break a tie and the Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI) men's basketball team defeated Union College, 67-65 in a Liberty League contest at East Campus Arena.

RPI has won six straight games to improve to 15-9 overall and 9-5 in the league. The Engineers have clinched a berth into the Liberty League playoffs and will be the third seed or the fourth seed depending solely on the outcome of their game against Skidmore College on Saturday afternoon (4pm). The Dutchmen, who are locked into the second seed and will host a semifinal game on Wednesday, fall to 19-5 and 10-5.

Union fought back to tie the game in the final seconds on a three-point basket by Keven Donohue with 1:07 remaining and a pair of free throws by Keith Callies with 27 seconds remaining. On Rensselaer's ensuing possession, Zajac, a point guard, held the ball near halfcourt until there were eight seconds when he drove into traffic in the lane. As he jumped toward the rim on a shot attempt, he was fouled on the wrist moments before running into a Union defender for what would have been a charge. After a Union timeout, Zajac made both free throws for the two-point lead. Both teams called timeout before the Dutchmen inbounded the ball in its backcourt under pressure. They were able to get the ball across halfcourt but unable to get a shot off before the final horn sounded.

Zajac finished with a team high 18 points and Tyler Gendron scored 12 for the hosts. Cedric White had nine rebounds and the Engineers won despite shooting 34%. RPI had a 42-36 rebounding advantage on the night.

Union was led by senior Keven Donohue, who scored 29 points. It gives him 1,458 career points at Union, which ranks fifth all time. Matt Petrone, Keith Callies, Evan Croll and Brian DeBisschop each had eight points and DeBisschop led the Dutchmen with nine boards. Terell Winney dished out five assists and Union shot 46% for the game. Donohue scored 20+ points for the 10th time this season.

RPI led 33-31 at halftime. With the game tied 53-53 with 7:56 left, the seven tie of the night, RPI went on a 7-1 run over the next 2:01 featuring a three pointer by Brendan Farley for a 60-54 lead with 5:55 left before Union's 11-5 run over the next 4:28 knotted it at 65-65.

Union hosts Vassar Saturday at 4pm and will honor five seniors prior to the final regular season home game of their careers. Six Engineers will be honored for RPI's Senior Day Saturday at against Skidmore, which stands fourth at 9-6.