TROY, N.Y. – The Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI) men's basketball team closed strong to earn an important 61–58 Liberty League victory over Vassar on this afternoon in ECAV Arena.

Andrew Deppe led the Engineers with a team-high 17 points on 8-of-12 shooting to go with five rebounds, while PJ Scalisi and Yechiel Stewart each added 11 points. Scalisi also dished out a team-best five assists, and Stewart was disruptive defensively with four steals as RPI improved to 16–5 overall and 12–2 in league play.

Vassar punched first in the opening minuites, but RPI answered with an early surge sparked by Stewart, who knocked down a pair of first-half threes and jumped passing lanes to fuel transition opportunities.

Deppe asserted himself inside as the half wore on, scoring on consecutive paint touches and then stepping out to help stretch the floor as the Engineers built a 33–29 halftime edge, capped by a late three from Kellen Driscoll in the closing seconds.

The Engineers briefly pushed the margin to double figures early in the second half behind back-to-back threes from Scalisi and steady interior finishes by Deppe and Nate Tawiah-Boateng, but Vassar chipped away with perimeter shooting to keep the game tight.

RPI maintained control through execution down the stretch, with Deppe converting key baskets in the lane and Driscoll calmly knocking down two free throws in the final 18 seconds to restore a three-point cushion. Deppe then sealed the outcome defensively, blocking a potential game-tying three with less than a second remaining.

RPI finished the afternoon shooting 48.9 percent from the field and 50.0 percent from three, with Deppe's 17 points leading all scorers and Tawiah-Boateng providing nine points and five rebounds off the bench.

The Engineers will continue their push towards the conference playoffs with home matchups against RIT and Ithaca next weekend.