TROY, N.Y. – The Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI) men's basketball team survived a wild finish and outlasted St. Lawrence 65–62 in overtime at ECAV Arena, riding a game-high 23 points from
PJ Scalisi and double-figure boards from
Dylan Matchett to move to 6–2 overall and 2–0 in Liberty League play.
Scalisi drilled five threes and sealed the result with the go-ahead bucket with two minutes remaining, while Matchett stacked a team-best 11 rebounds to go with eight assists and two steals.
Kellen Driscoll delivered a 11-point, 10-rebound double-double, and
Andrew Deppe filled the line with 11 points, seven rebounds, and four assists as RPI won the glass 42–35.
After leading 26–24 at halftime, the Engineers burst to a 40–26 edge early in the second half behind threes from Matchett and Scalisi and a Deppe three-point play. St. Lawrence gradually reeled it back, and the Saints went up five inside the final minute before RPI's closing surge.
Billy Feeks buried a right-wing three to cut it to 56–54 with :42 left, and Scalisi knifed in for the tying layup with 14 seconds remaining in regulation to force overtime. In the extra session, Driscoll finished in traffic and Deppe tipped in to pull even at 60–60. Moments later, Matchett pushed in transition and found Scalisi for a fast-break triple at 2:06 that gave RPI the lead for good, and his late free throws sealed it.
The Engineers shot 10-for-33 from deep, posted 22 paint points and 10 second-chance points, and held the Saints to 32.2% from the field.
RPI will head to Bard for a Saturday league contest.