TROY, N.Y. – Senior Tom Horvat scored a game-high 17 points and three of his teammates also reached double figures as the Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI) men's basketball team defeated Vassar College 66-54 to clinch a spot in the conference playoffs. The Engineers are 8-8 and 13-10 overall, while the Brewers fall to 6-10 and 10-13.

Vassar scored the game's first six points and eight of the first 11. It took until midway through the frame for RPI to gain its first lead, which came on a three pointer from Kevin Davis. The Brewers came back to tie the game at 16-16, but the Engineers scored the next seven points for its largest lead to that point with eight minutes to play.

Rensselaer's advantage got to as many as 13 points on a three pointer by Patrick Mahoney with nine seconds remaining, but a put-back by Vassar's Mason Dyslin at the buzzer made it 36-25 at halftime.

Both teams shot well in the first half as the Engineers made 43.3% (13 of 30) from the field, while the Brewers were successful on 52.4% (11 of 21). The difference was Rensselaer's seven three pointers (7 of 15) compared to Vassar going 0 for 5.

Mahoney, Horvat and Mitchel Wayand all had nine points for RPI, which forced 12 turnovers. The Brewers were led by Alex Seff and Zach Bromfeld, who had six points apiece in the first 20 minutes.

The game remained close throughout the second half as Vassar made a push with a 13-1 run that was culminated with a jumper from Bromfeld that pulled it to within six points, 50-44, with 8:30 to play. RPI answered by scoring 11 of the next 15 points, including a pair of Marcus Giese dunks, that gave it a 13-point lead (61-48) with 3:47 remaining. The margin remained double digits from that point forward.

Horvat, a guard, also had five assists, four steals and a rebound. Wayand finished with 15 points and five rebounds, while Giese scored 12 with five boards, three assists and three steals. Mahoney chipped in with 11 points, four rebounds and three assists. Rensselaer registered 17 assists compared to Vassar's four.

The Brewers got 14 points off the bench from Bromfeld, who also had five rebounds. Seff and Lance Tebay scored 13 points apiece. along with five and six rebounds, respectively.

RPI is back in action on Friday when it hosts St. Lawrence University in a conference contest (7pm). The Brewers are home to Hobart College on Friday at 7pm.