Box Score | Season Preview Video | Game Highlights

Cobleskill, N.Y. - The Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI) men's basketball team opened the 2017-18 season on Wednesday evening by posting a 68-50 non-conference decision over SUNY Cobleskill.
 
The Engineers used a strong rebounding effort to control the glass by a 51-41 margin, including 16 on the offensive end of the floor, to provide the necessary possessions to post the victory. Neither team was impressive shooting the ball with RPI hitting 22-of-65 attempts from the floor, 33.8%, while Cobleskill was 17-for-58, 29.3%.
 
RPI was led by the trio of: junior forward Andreas Kontopidis (Sherborn, MA / Dover-Sherborn), who led the team in scoring with 19 points, to go with six rebounds and four assists. Junior guard Tom Horvat (Cranston, RI / Marianapolis Prep.) had 18 points and five rebounds with four steals, while senior guard Asa Barnhill (Gloversville, NY / Gloversville) added 15 points to go with seven rebounds and three assists.

The Fighting Tigers received a strong offensive effort from senior guard Malik Chambers (West Point, NY / James I. O'Neil), who scored a game-high of 25 points to go with four rebounds. Junior swingman Ja'Quan McGill (Brockport, NY / Brockport) went for nine points and four rebounds in his Cobleskill debut.
 
The Fighting Tigers return to action on Saturday when they travel to face the Panthers of Albany College of Pharmacy in non-league action beginning at 1pm. Tthe Engineers travel on Friday to Bristol, R.I. for the Roger Williams Tournament, where they meet the Rams of Framingham State College with tip-off slated for 7:30pm.