TROY, N.Y. - Graduate student Dom Black led four players in double figures and the Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI) made nearly 60 percent of its shots in the second half in pulling away from Rochester Institute of Technology (RIT), 66-46, in a Liberty League contest at East Campus Arena.

RPI improves to 17-7 overall and 11-6 in the conference and remain alive to host at least one game in the league tournament. The Engineers host Hobart College, which is also 11-6 in the conference (15-9 overall), in the regular season finale on Saturday at 4pm. RIT drops to 9-15 and 5-12 and concludes its season at Bard College on Saturday at 4pm.

The visiting Tigers broke out to a 18-9 lead in the first 10:30 behind six points from Kevin Ryan, five from Keegan Ocorr, four from Kenny Wilburn, two from Brock Bowen, and a free throw from Andrew Fox. The teams traded baskets to make it 20-12 before Dom Black hit a three for RPI and Dylan Matchett scored in the paint to make it 20-17. A Bowen free throw was countered by a triple from Will Rubin to make it 21-20 for the Tigers before Matt Caggiano scored for the visitors for a 23-20 edge with 3:18 to play in the first half.

Another Rubin trey tied the game 17 seconds later and Black gave RPI the lead, 25-23, with a layup off an assist from Avery Eugster. Eugster then closed the half with a short jumper for a 27-23 lead for the Engineers.

A 14-4 run by RPI to open the second half, highlighted by a three pointer from Black five minutes in, made it 41-27 and the lead remained double digits the rest of the game. It climbed as high as 20 points twice, thanks in part to the Engineers connecting on 15 of 26 second half shots (57.6%). 

A guard, Black finished with 14 points on 6 of 10 shooting with team-highs of seven rebounds and five assists. Jonny Angbazo scored 12 points with five rebounds and Matchett also had a dozen. Eugster had 10 points, four rebounds, and five assists.

Wilburn was RIT's lone player in double figures, finishing with 12 points and four rebounds. Ryan scored seven with a team-best seven boards.