UTICA, N.Y. - Junior Patrick Mahoney scored a career-high 32 points to lead the Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI) men's basketball team to its seventh straight win, 78-70 over SUNY Delhi on the first day of the two-day Utica College Classic. The Engineers, who were playing for the first time since December 11, are now 7-2, while the Broncos fall to 7-4.

Mahoney opened the game with a three-pointer and RPI scored 22 of the next 27 points to build a 25-5 lead nine minutes into the contest. Five additional players scored for Rensselaer in the spurt, which concluded with another trey from Mahoney. The advantage eventually grew to 24 points (40-16) with 4:31 to play before settling at 19 (43-24) at halftime. 

With the help of 6 of 9 shooting, including 5 of 6 from behind the arc, Mahoney had 18 points in the first 20 minutes. As a team, the Engineers were 17 of 33 (51.5%) from the field with 8 of 13 (61.5%) from three-point range. Defensively they held Delhi to just 30.3% (10 of 33) and 18.8% (3 of 16), respectively, with the help of six steals. Kevin Davis and Dom Black both had a pair of first half swipes. 

The Broncos cut their deficit to 10 points, 45-35, three minutes into the second half but RPI's Mason Memmelaar scored on a layup for a 12-point lead.

Delhi pulled to within four points, 56-52, with nine minutes remaining but a pair of field goals from Mahoney bumped RPI's lead to eight points, though a Darius Hines three kept the game within two possessions. A Mahoney basket and a three from Mitchel Wayand made it double digits with 6:31 to play and the margin remained at least six points the rest of the way.

Mahoney made 11 of 20 shots from the field (5 of 8 from three) with eight rebounds to lead all players. Wayand had 15 points on 5 of 8 shooting, all from behind the arc, and Memmelaar scored 10 with five rebounds. Black had five points, team-highs of nine rebounds and eight assists and two steals. 

Hines finished with 19 points for the Broncos, who used 47.4% (18 of 38) shooting from the field in the second half to climb back into the game. 

Action continues on Monday with the Engineers playing Ana Maria College and Delhi facing the host Pioneers.