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Potsdam, N.Y. - The Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI) men's basketball team got off to a blazing start and the Engineers held off Clarkson University 61-55 in a Liberty League decision. RPI improves to 10-9 overall and 4-6 in the league, while the Golden Knights drop to 8-12 and 5-6.

On Clarkson's first shot of the game, Conrad Zampier made a basket in the lane at the 19:08 mark, but that was the last time the Knights would score a field goal for nearly 10 minutes as the Engineers forced them to miss 14 straight shots before Felix Abongo finally converted at the 9:16 mark. Rensselaer had raced to a double-digit lead by that point and maintained its advantage for most of the half. RPI saw the margin settle at 13 points at the break as it held Clarkson to just 4-for-26 shooting from the field, including 0-for-8 from the 3-point arc.

Rensselaer continued to make shots and extended its lead to 20 points (37-17) at the 15:27 mark of the second half following a 3-pointer from Jonathan Luster. A few moments later the margin was still 20, but Clarkson began to chip away at what appeared to be an insurmountable deficit, going on a 12-0 run in a stretch of four-plus minutes. An Abongo layup at 7:22 to pull within six (45-39), but the Engineers had an answer on the other end when Tom Horvat responded with a 3-pointer from the elbow-extended.

Though Clarkson would again fall behind by double digits, the team rallied back once more as Drew Zlogar buried a 3-pointer from the top of the key at the 2:31 mark. Once again Rensselaer countered with a 3-pointer from Luster with just under two minutes to go. From that point on, it was about RPI taking care its opportunities from the free throw line, and the Engineers finished the game with a six-point win.

Horvat a game-high 21 points, going 8-for-12 from the floor and 4-for-7 from the arc. Luster took just four shots, but made three of them and finished with eight points and nine boards. Tyler Gendron came off the bench to score 10 points, doing most of his damage from the free throw line with six makes in eight attempts. 

Abongo recorded his fourth double-double of the season with 17 points and 11 boards, shooting 6-for-13 from the field and 5-for-6 from the line. Conrad Zampier and Derek Hart each added in 10 points, while Liam Ellise added in eight points and three assists.