TROY, N.Y. - Despite a late comeback by the Engineers, the Rensselaer Polytechnic Instute (RPI) men's basketball team fell to Clarkson University, 59-57, in Liberty League action on Saturday afternoon at East Campus Arena. With the loss, RPI drops to 6-17 overall, with a 3-11 mark in league play. Second place Clarkson improves to 11-3 in conference and 18-8 overall.
The Engineers were down by 14 points, 52-38, with 8:47 left to play, but went on a 10-0 run over the next 3:53 to pull within 52-48 with just under five minutes remaining. Clarkson's Felix Abongo hit one-of-two free throws to end the run, but RPI followed with six straight points to take its first lead of the game, 54-53, on a Brian Hatcher 3-pointer with 3:34 on the clock. The Golden Knights tied the game and then regained the lead on a pair of foul shots by Charles McAllister, before John Coleman put teh visitors ahead by four points with 1:26 to play.
Chase Almond cut the Rensselaer deficit to one point with a jumper with under a minute left, but single free throws from Abongo and Derek Hart put Clarkson ahead by three points, 59-56, with four seconds to go. RPI senior captain Josh Dugas hit the first shot in a one-and-one attempt with 1.3 seconds to go, but the Engineers were unable to corral the rebound of his second shot, which he missed intentionally, and the Golden Knights came away with the win.
Rensselaer fell behind as many as 16 points in the game, after a 15-3 run by the Golden Knights in the first half. Dugas scored on a jump shot to end the first half, sending the teams to the locker room with Clarkson holding a 36-21 advantage. Abongo scored first to start the second half, but Almond and Nate Kane scored consecutive baskets to start the Engineers comeback.
Dugas was one of three players scoring in double figures for the Engineers, finishing with a team-high 16 points. Hatcher followed with 15 points, a game-high nine rebounds, and three blocks, while Almond chipped in with 14 points, four boards, and a pair of steals. RPI shot 45.8 percent (22-of-48) from the field, including a 42.9 (6-of-14) from beyond the 3-point line.
Coleman led all players with 18 points for Clarkson, while Abongo added 13 and a team-high six rebounds. Derek Hart contributed seven points, four caroms, and all three of the Golden Knights' blocks. Clarkson out-rebounded the Engineers, 33-29, and shot 46.2 percent (24-of-52) from the floor.
RPI, which hosted its alumni weekend and honored Mike Griffin after the contest, returns to action on Friday when it visits Vassar in Liberty League action starting at 8pm.