TROY, N.Y. - Sophomore guard Willie Zachery scored a game-high 21 points and four other St. Lawrence University (SLU) student-athletes reached double figures in points as the Saints defeated the Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI) men's basketball team, 73-68, in the Liberty League opener for both schools. Zachery scored six of his points from the free throw line in the final 34 seconds to help his team stave off the Engineers.

The game was close throughout with the visitors holding a three-point lead, 32-29, at halftime and the score tied as late as with 6:10 left in the second half (56-56). St. Lawrence went on a run over the next three minutes and led by eight points, 64-56, with 3:10 to play. The Engineers scored the next four points, however, and pulled to within 64-60 just 60 seconds later. A free throw by RPI junior Chase Almond (South Kingstown, RI / South Kingstown), who finished with 18 points and 10 rebounds, made it a three-point game, but a three-point basket from the left side of the court by SLU's Kyle Kobis (Elma, NY / Berkshire School) put the Saints ahead by six points, 67-61, with 1:02 remaining. Zachary (Atlanta, GA / Druid Hills) then went 6 for 6 from the free throw line to seal the victory, which moved St. Lawrence's overall record to 6-3.

A point guard, Zachary added a game-high five assists with three rebounds, a steal and no turnovers in 32 minutes. Kobis was second on the team with 14 points, while Riley Naclerio (Latham, NY / Albany Academy) and Kyle Edwards (Norwich, NY / Norwich) had 12 points apiece. Senior Brady Condlin (Massena, NY / Massena) added 10 points and a team-best eight rebounds for St. Lawrence, which made 11 of 13 free throws (84.6%) and shot 54.2% (13 of 24) from the floor in the second half.

Rensselaer was paced by Almond's double-double, which included five offensive rebounds. Classmate Brian Hatcher (Danbury, CT / Immaculate) finished with 15 points, four rebounds, two assists, two steals and two blocked shots, while Nate Kane (Glenmont, NY / Bethlehem) and Josh Dugas (Monroe, CT / St. Luke's) had 12 points apiece. The Engineers fall to 3-7 overall.

RPI returns to its home court on Saturday at 4pm when Rochester Institute of Technology (RIT) visits East Campus Arena for a league contest. The Saints play at Union College in a Liberty League game at 4pm on Saturday.