Box Score | RPI Athletics on Instagram

TROY, N.Y. - St. Lawrence University (SLU) used a 16-1 run midway through the second half to turn a tie game into a 15-point lead and the Saints went on to defeat the Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI) men's basketball team, 76-63, in a Liberty League contest at East Campus Arena. Five student-athletes reached double digits in points for SLU, which improves to 8-1 overall and 2-0 in the conference. RPI, which had won four of its last five games, falls to 7-4 and 1-1.

With the score tied at 42-42 and 13:13 to play in the second half, the visitors got layups from Ben Crawford (Framingham, MA / BB&N) and Riley Naclerio (Cohoes, NY / Albany Academy) for a four-point lead. Tom Horvat (Cranston, RI / Marianapolis Prep.) hit a free throw for the Engineers, but the Saints rattled off 12 straight points over the next 3:39 for a 58-43 lead. Senior Kyle Kobis (Elma, NY / Berkshire School) had the last seven points in the stretch as he hit a three-point shot and two field goals - both layups. 

Kobis, a guard, led the balanced attack for St. Lawrence, which made 30 of 61 shots (49.2%) and held a 40-26 advantage in rebounds. He had 14 points with a team-high seven rebounds and three assists. Naclerio added 12 points with five rebounds, while Willie Zachery (Atlanta, GA / Druid Hills), Dom DeRegis (Jamesville, NY / Jamesville-Dewitt) and Kieran Miller (Montclair, NJ / Montclair) each had 10 points. Zachery chipped in with four assists and DeRegis and Miller had six and five rebounds, respectively.

Senior Jonathan Luster (Essex, CT / Valley Regional) led Rensselaer in scoring with 13 points, along with three assists. Horvat scored 12 points with four rebounds and two assists and Marcus Giese (Franklin, MA / Franklin) had 10 points, five rebounds and a steal. The Engineers shot 44.3% (27 of 61) from the field, including 16 of 31 (51.6%) in the second half. 

The Engineers play again on Friday when they host Clarkson University in a league game (8pm). The Saints, who have won six consecutive games, are back in action on Tuesday at 8pm against the Golden Knights.