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TROY, N.Y. - Junior forward Andreas Kontopidis was again a big contributor for Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI) as the Engineers topped the Raptors from Bard College on Saturday night, 67-62. Kontopidis, the team's leading scorer on the season, finished with 30 points, going 14 for 26 from the field.

Although there was no score for either team in the first 2:30, Kontopidis got things going for the Engineers, scoring six of the Engineers' first eight points and going steady scorer the entire half, including a dunk and an and-one with the clock ticking down in the period. The Sherborn, Mass., native finished the half with 16 points on 7 of 12 shooting, while also adding two blocks. Sophomore center Marcus Giese and junior guard Asa Barnhill both had four rebounds in the first half.

Rensselaer also got some help at the free throw line, going 5 for 11, as Bard committed 11 fouls. The Raptors did not take a free throw the entire half.

Forward Emmanuel Oyakhilome led Bard with 10 points in the first 20 minutes, while Oyakhilome, Justyn Rogers, and David Runcie all had four boards.

Kontopidis kept his scoring habits going in the second, opening the scoring just 20 seconds into the frame and tallying eight of the Engineers' first 10 points.

The Raptors battled back for most of the second, and at the 5:46 mark narrowed the Engineers' lead to three, outscoring Rensselaer 27-18 to that point. Junior guard Tom Horvat helped give Rensselaer their momentum back, hitting two straight threes to extend the lead back to nine.

Bard once again narrowed the gap to three with 22 seconds left, but the Engineers controlled the ball and drew the intentional foul. Barnhill nailed both free throws for a five-point lead with seven seconds to go. Coming out of an Engineers' timeout, Bard missed a three, and couldn't get off another shot, as the buzzer sounded.

Horvat hit three three-pointers in the final six minutes, going 3 for 5 from deep, and ending the game with 17 points. Giese led Rensselaer with 10 rebounds, while also adding five blocks. Oyakhilome was Bard's leading scorer with 23 points, as well as leading rebounder with eight. Alijah Rue finished with 10 points, while Runcie had eight points and seven rebounds.

With the win, Rensselaer goes to 8-6 (3-4 Liberty League), while Bard falls to 4-9 (2-4 Liberty League). The Engineers will be in action next on Friday night as they travel to Ithaca (8pm), while Bard looks to rebound as they host Union on Tuesday (8pm).