Box Score | RPI Athletics on Instagram

TROY, N.Y. - For the second straight game, freshman Tom Horvat scored more than 20 points, but it was not enough as the Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI) men's basketball team was defeated by Skidmore College, 73-66. Edvinas Rupkus scored 21 points to lead Skidmore, which moved into a three-way tie atop the Liberty League standings with an 8-5 record. The Thoroughbreds are 13-8 overall. RPI, which got a game-high 24 points from Horvat, falls to 10-12 and 4-9.

The Engineers opened the game by scoring the first nine points, including five from junior Nate Kane (Glenmont, NY / Bethlehem Central), but Skidmore stormed back, eventually taking a 15-14 lead with 9:05 left in the first half. The teams traded baskets and the score remained within three points for the next 9:17 before Rupkus (Naujoji Akmene, Lithuania / Westtown (PA), a freshman, made a three-point shot for a five point, 32-27, Skidmore lead. He then scored on a layup and made the ensuing free throw for an eight-point lead at the break. 

Rupkus had nine points in the first 20 minutes, while Horvat (Cranston, RI / Marianapolis Prep) also had nine points. Rensselaer made 8 of 20 shots (40.0 percent), including 4 of 12 three-pointers, while the Thoroughbreds shot 52.0 percent (13 of 25) in the first frame.

Skidmore made it a nine-point lead (38-29) in the first couple minutes of the second half and maintained at least a three-possession advantage until the 11-minute mark when RPI senior Chase Almond (South Kingstown, RI / South Kingstown) scored on a layup to pull the home team to within six points, 48-42.

A Jack Byrne (Hazlet, NJ / Shore Regional) three-pointer eventually put the Throughbreds ahead by 10 points, 56-46, but the Engineers continued to battle, getting to within a point, 62-61, on an Asa Barnhill (Gloversville, NY / Gloversville) three-point basket. However, Rupkus answered with a layup 26 seconds later and RPI was forced to foul down the stretch. Junior Royce Paris (Harlem, NY / Millbrook School) made six consecutive free throws to seal the victory.

Horvat, who had 28 points on Tuesday night, also had five three-point baskets, along with six rebounds and four assists. Senior Tyler Gendron (Merrimack, NH / Merrimack) scored 17 points with six rebounds and Almond had 10 points and eight rebounds.

Paris finished with 16 points, including 9 for 9 from the free throw line. He also had four rebounds and an assist. Rupkus connected on 8 of 12 shots with five three-pointers, four rebounds, three assists and two steals.

RPI is back in action on Saturday afternoon at 4pm against Union College, while Skidmore hosts Vassar College at the same time. Both games are conference contests.