TROY, N.Y. – The Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI) men's basketball team used a decisive second-half run to pull away from RIT, earning a 65–53 Liberty League victory tonight night in ECAV Arena. 

Andrew Deppe led a balanced RPI effort with 13 points, five rebounds, and four assists, while Yechiel Stewart and Kellen Driscoll added 10 points apiece as the Engineers maintained their spot atop the Liberty League.
RPI held the Tigers to 32.7 percent shooting and controlled the interior with a 32–14 edge in points in the paint.

The contest was tight throughout the opening half, with neither side able to create separation. RPI built small leads behind early threes from Driscoll and PJ Scalisi and interior finishes from Deppe and Nate Tawiah-Boateng, but RIT answered repeatedly from the perimeter.

The Engineers carried a narrow 30–29 advantage into the break after closing the half on a short scoring burst capped by a late bucket in the paint.

Momentum swung firmly in RPI's favor early in the second half. Deppe scored on consecutive possessions to open the frame, Stewart knocked down a three from the left wing, and Driscoll added another from deep as part of a 15–4 run that pushed the lead to double figures.

RPI continued to pressure defensively, forcing turnovers that turned into transition points, while Tawiah-Boateng provided a spark off the bench with trips to the free-throw line and strong rebounding on both ends.

The Engineers next host Ithaca tomorrow at 4:00 pm.