TROY, N.Y. - The Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI) men's basketball team made 59.6% of its shots, including 63.6% in the second half, and the Engineers extended their winning streak to five games with a 72-50 victory over Clarkson University at East Campus Arena. RPI improves to 5-2 overall and 2-0 in the Liberty League, while the Golden Knights fall to 2-5 and 0-2.

Rensselaer scored eight of the first 10 points of the game and later used a 10-0 run to increase its lead to 21-8 midway through the half before going into the locker room with a 38-18 advantage. All eight players who saw time in the first 30 minutes scored at least two points for RPI, which made 14 of 25 shots (56.0%) from the field. 

On the other end, the Engineers held Clarkson to just 23.1% (6 of 26) from the floor, including only two (2 of 11, 18.2%) three pointers. RPI had 13 steals in forcing 14 turnovers, scoring 19 points off of them. Sophomore Dom Black had five first half swipes and freshman Will Rubin had four, along with a blocked shot.

Rensselaer's Patrick Mahoney scored four of the first five points in the first minute of the second half and the Engineers built their lead to 27 points (46-19) three minutes in. The advantage got to as many as 30 points (51-21) at the 15:29 mark and again with 2:36 to play (71-41).

Rubin led RPI with 15 points on 6 of 9 shooting, along with four rebounds and four steals. Senior Kevin Davis scored 12 points on 4 of 5 shooting with three rebounds and two assists and Mahoney and Jonny Angbazo both had 10 points. Mahoney added three rebounds and two assists, while Angbazo had four rebounds. Black finished with five points and game-highs of nine rebounds, seven assists and seven steals.

Golden Knights sophomore Chris Hulbert led all scorers with 17 points. He also had four rebounds and three steals. 

The Engineers play for the final time this semester at Bard College in a league game on Wednesday (7:30pm). Clarkson is back in action on Tuesday when it hosts St. Lawrence University in a conference game, also at 7:30pm.