TROY, N.Y. – The Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI) men's basketball team shot nearly 60 percent from the floor in the first half, including nine made three pointers, and five players finished in double figures in points as the Engineers defeated Skidmore College 74-61 in a Liberty League contest at East Campus Arena. RPI improves to 14-6 overall and 8-5 in the conference, while the Thoroughbreds drop to 10-10 and 8-5.
 
The game was tight through the first six minutes with RPI pulling ahead 12-8 on a three pointer from Dylan Matchett. Skidmore answered with a bucket by Alexei Downie before the Engineers scored six straight for an 18-10 lead. The Thoroughbreds broke the string with a jumper but Chuck Clemons nailed a pair of threes and Dom Black scored on a layup for a 26-14 advantage. Black later answered a Skidmore trey with one of his own and Will Rubin followed for a 32-17 lead. Angbazo finished a layup and RPI led 34-17 with 6:05 to play, outscoring the visitors 22-7 in that seven minute span.  
 
The lead remained double digits the rest of the half, climbing to 20, 46-26, at halftime.
 
The Engineers shot 58.6 percent from the floor in the first half (17 of 29) with nine (of 18) three pointers. They had 12 assists and forced eight turnovers. On the other end, Skidmore was 12 of 33 (36.4%) with two (of 10) from behind the arc. The Thoroughbreds had four assists.
 
Skidmore cut into its deficit in the second half, despite falling behind by 21 points (49-28) on an Avery Eugster three pointer early in the frame. The Thoroughbreds answered with a 13-2 run to make it 51-43 with 12:54 left.
 
RPI's Will Frederick made it 53-43 with a dunk but Riley Greene scored on a jumper and Downie hit a layup to make it a six point deficit (53-47) for Skidmore. Clemons countered with a triple before Tautvydas Kupstas hit from behind the arc on the other end. The game was a five point difference, 57-52, with 8:40 to go before Rubin made a three and Angbazo scored on a layup. Skidmore again cut it to six points, 65-59, on a Greene three with 2:59 left but Rensselaer quickly got it back to double digits on its way to the win.
 
Angbazo led RPI with 15 points and seven rebounds, while Clemons scored 14, Black had 13, Eugster scored 12, and Rubin had 10. Rubin also added seven boards, three assists, and three steals. The Engineers ended the game by shooting 44.8 percent from the field (26 of 58). They made 12 of 31 three pointers (38.7%).
 
The Thoroughbreds, who shot 38.2 percent (26 of 68) from the floor with 5 of 16 (31.3%) from behind the arc, were led by Kupstas. He had 23 points with six rebounds. Greene and Downie both added 12 points, while Greg Skoric pulled down 13 rebounds.