Box Score | RPI Athletics on Twitter

SCHENECTADY, N.Y. - Senior Andreas Kontopidis had team-highs of 14 points and seven rebounds, while Tom Horvat and Patrick Mahoney both had 11 points as the Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI) men's basketball team improved to 11-9 overall and 6-7 in the Liberty League with a 69-66 win over conference foe Union College. The Dutchmen fall to 8-11 and 4-9.

Both teams got off to slow starts as there were only 20 points scored in the game's first 10 minutes with Union holding a 14-6 lead. After falling behind 16-6 with 8:32 to play in the opening half, the Engineers went on a 12-1 run, culminated by a three pointer from Mahoney that put them ahead 18-17. Kevin McNoble answered for the Dutchmen but Kontopidis and Marcus Giese made it 23-19 for the visitors.

RPI went on to score six of final eight points of the half for a 29-23 lead at the break.

A three pointer from Rensselaer freshman Dom Black at 13:24 of the second half gave the Engineers their biggest lead to that point (43-32) climbed to within four points (44-40) with 11:11 to play. Union eventually tied the score at 46-46 and again at 49-49, but a Horvat three made it a 52-49 game with 7:20 to play.

Kontopidis put RPI ahead by eight points (61-53) with a basket from behind the arc with just under five minutes to play and Rensselaer held the lead for the rest of the contest. Union did pull to within two points with under a minute to play, but Horvat hit from long distance for a 68-63 lead with 20 seconds remaining.

In addition to his 14 points and seven rebounds, Kontopidis also had an assist and three steals. Horvat added a rebound, five assists, two steals and a block, while Mahoney had a pair of rebounds and a steal. Giese scored eight points with six rebounds and a game-high seven assists.

Freshman Mike Concannon paced Union with 18 points, along with five rebounds. Two others also reached double figures in points.