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TROY, N.Y. - Jonathan Luster scored 23 points, Andreas Kontopidis tallied 20 and the Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI) men's basketball team shot 53 percent from the floor in defeating Vassar College, 69-58, in a Liberty League contest at East Campus Arena. The Engineers, who improve to 10-6 and 4-3, made 26 of 49 shots, including 10 of 20 from three-point range. The visiting Brewers, who are now 5-11 and 1-7, shot 39 percent (25 of 63).

Following a first half that was close throughout - RPI led 31-27 at the break - the score remained tight into the latter stages of the second half. Rensselaer pulled ahead by six points (41-35) four minutes into the frame, but Vassar cut its deficit to one point (44-43) on a Jesse Browne (Barrington, RI / Deerfield Academy) layup just over two minutes later (12:46).

Both teams traded baskets for the next three minutes before Luster (Essex, CT / Valley Regional) made a jumper, Kontopidis (Sherborn, MA / Dover-Sherborn) had a three-point basket and Luster scored on a layup for an eight-point margin (54-46) with 6:15 to play. The Engineers continued to score while holding the Brewers off the board for the next 2:09 for a 60-46 lead with its 13-0 run.

The margin ballooned to as many as 21 points (69-48) on a Luster jumper with 1:40 to play before the Brewers chipped away in the final minute.

Luster, a senior guard, made 8 of 12 shots (3 of 5 from three-point range) for his 23 points, 13 of which came in the first half. He also had four rebounds, an assist and a steal. Kontopidis, a sophomore forward, connected on 8 of 16 shots (3 of 6 from three) with five rebounds, an assist and a steal. Senior Brian Hatcher (Danbury, CT / Immaculate) had a team-high eight rebounds with two assists and a pair of blocks for the Engineers, who had 16 assists on 26 field goals.

Sophomore Alex Seff (Arlington, VA / Washington & Lee) led the Brewers with 15 points and eight rebounds. He also had three assists. Browne finished with 13 points and Tony Caletti (Mill Valley, CA / Branson) had a dozen points along with six rebounds and three steals. Vassar made 4 of 21 (19.0%) three-point attempts in the game, including just 1 of 11 (9.1%) in the second half.

The Engineers return to league play on Friday night at 8pm when they host Skidmore College. The Brewers are idle for a week before hosting Trinity College in a non-league contest on January 24 at 7pm.