TROY, N.Y. - The Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI) men's basketball team scored 20 of the final 29 points of the game to turn a three point deficit into an eight point victory, 56-48 over Clarkson University in a Liberty League contest at East Campus Arena. The No. 25 Engineers improve to 11-2 overall and 5-1 in the conference, while the Golden Knights drop to 5-8 and 2-4.

Trailing 39-36 with 12:20 to play in the second half, RPI pulled to within a point on single free throws from Dom Black and Chuck Clemons. It was Clemons who gave Rensselaer the lead, 40-39, when he scored on a jumper in the paint with 8:38 to play and Dylan Matchett increased the run to 6-0 with a layup 30 seconds later.

Both teams went scoreless for nearly four minutes before a three pointer from Brian Kelly made it nine straight for the home team, who led 45-39 with 4:43 remaining. Malachi Harris answered on the other end for Clarkson but a Black layup with 3:33 left pushed it to a two possession game, 47-42.

Finn Cork's layup with 1:25 on the clock pulled the Knights to within three, but a trey from Black with 1:03 left pushed the difference to six points, 50-44. Jonny Angbazo was fouled after a Clarkson miss and made one free throw before a Clarkson turnover led to a foul on Black, who made both attempts for a nine point lead, 53-44, with 37 seconds left.

A graduate student, Black had team-highs of 13 points and seven rebounds, along with three assists and a game-high five steals. Will Rubin had 11 points and Kelly scored eight with six caroms.

Ryan Miles-Ferguson led the Golden Knights with 12 points to go with five rebounds, while Cork had six points and a team-high seven boards.