PLATTSBURGH - N.Y. - Sophomore Tom Horvat scored a career-high 31 points to lead the Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI) to a come-from-behind victory over Elms College, on Saturday afternoon in the Cardinal Classic at Memorial Hall. With the win, the Engineers improve to 2-0, while the Blazers drop to 0-3.

Horvat connected on 9 of 21 field goal attempts, including 4 of 12 from three-point range. He was also 9 of 10 from the free throw line, with two rebounds and an assist in 33 minutes. Senior captain Brian Hatcher recorded a double-double of 13 points and 12 rebounds, while fellow senior Jonathan Luster added 11 points, five boards and five assists.

The Blazers were led by Symon Smith, who netted a game-high 26 points on 10 of 26 shooting for the floor. He went 6 for 17 from distance, with six rebounds and two assists in 38 minutes. DeAngelo Cousar and Trifon Bish had 14 points apiece.

Elms got out to a hot start, opening the game on a 17-5 run over the opening eight minutes. After the Engineers got within 20-10, midway through the stanza, the Blazers came right back with a 13-6 run for a 17-point lead (33-16) with 2:42 left in the half.

RPI responded with three straight three-pointers from Hatcher, Luster and Sebuabe Dzobo to slice the deficit to 33-22. A Hatcher lay-up with 40 seconds to go in the half made it a six-point game (33-27).

A triple at the buzzer from Smith gave Elms a 36-30 lead at halftime.

After shooting just 32.4% in the first half, the Engineers converted on 41.2% of their shots in the second, including 7 of 19 threes (36.8%). Horvat netted 27 of 31 points in the second, including a lay-up with 14:17 on the clock to give RPI its first lead of the game at 45-44. 

Elms pulled even at 54-54 with 9:22 remaining, but a pair of free throws from Horvat gave Rensselaer a lead that it would not relinquish.

Three-pointers from Luster and Dzobo down the stretch kept the Blazers at bay and Rensselaer went 7 for 8 from the line in the closing minutes to seal the win.

RPI won the points in the paint battle, 26-22, and turned Elms' 12 turnovers into 17 points. The Engineers out-rebounded the Blazers 47-33, including 26-15 in the second half.

The Engineers return to action on Tuesday, when they host Sage College at East Campus Arena (8pm). Elms hosts Trinity (CT) on Tuesday (8pm).