TROY, N.Y. – The Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI) men's basketball team opened Liberty League play with a gritty 52–48 win over Clarkson at ECAV Arena.

PJ Scalisi paced RPI with a team-high 16 points and grabbed six rebounds, while Kellen Driscoll added 11 points on 5-of-6 shooting with two steals. 

Dylan Matchett controlled the glass with a game-best 11 rebounds, and Andrew Deppe supplied nine points with two blocks, including a late block in the final seconds that protected a two-possession margin. Pat White chipped in eight boards as RPI finished +9 on the glass (45–36) and held the Golden Knights to 30.5% from the field and 18.5% from three.

RPI edged ahead 27–26 at halftime behind early threes from Scalisi, White, and Billy Feeks, then created the first double-digit cushion after recording 14 of the first 19 points in the second half. Clarkson clawed back within three inside the final minute, but Matchett's mid-range jumper at 1:13, two clutch free throws from Scalisi and Deppe free throw in the final minute sealed the result.

RPI closes its first weekend in league play tomorrow at 4:00 pm on ECAV Arena.