Utica, NY --- Andrew Lufkin (Auburn, NH) was a rebound shy of a double-double and NCAA Division III's top scoring defense limited host SUNY Poly to 41 points as the nationally-ranked WPI knocked off the host Wildcats 77-41 in a Monday men's basketball non-conference matinee.
It was the third straight victory for the Engineers, who are now 8-1 overall and 14th in the most recent D3hoops.com Top 25 released today. SUNY Poly drops to 6-7 overall.
The Crimson and Gray entered the game allowing just 54.5 points per game, fewest among the 413 Division III programs nationwide and their average of 53.5 points now after Monday's contest, ranks them fourth out of 1,055 NCAA schools among all three divisions, trailing only Division I programs Houston, North Texas and Mississippi State.
WPI never trailed on Monday against the Wildcats. After Suny Poly's Jesse O'Dell (Rotterdam, NY) drained a pair of free throws, The Boynton Hillers held off the hosts from scoring on its next five possessions. The Engineers proceeded on a 7-0 run, seeing baskets from three different players, bringing the score to 9-2. WPI maintained the lead throughout the first half, never seeing an advantage of more than 11.
At the break, Lufkin and John Lowther (Hingham, MA) and led the team with nine points apiece, with Lufkin's made baskets solely consisting of treys. Lowther swatted two blocks and Lufkin added seven boards. O'Dell paced SUNY Poly with six points, five rebounds and one block at the half, while Dylan Ernst (Rome, NY) added four points and the lone assist for the Wildcats.
Within the first four minutes of the second half, Aidan Callahan (Rowley, MA) notched two baskets for four points and grabbed three steals, including two on on back-to-back possessions. Lufkin knocked down a three pointer after a Callahan steal, corralled two rebounds and added a steal of his own.
Lufkin tallied career-high of points (21) and steals (5) and equaled his career-best in rebounding with nine, accomplished in the Engineers last game on December 12th at Salem State, when he ironically also finished a board short of his first career double-double. It marked the sixth time this season a WPI player was a stat short of double-double with the junior joining John Adams (Douglas, MA) (3x) in accomplishing the feat multiple times.
The aforementioned Adams added 13 points and three rebounds, Lowther finished with 13 points and three blocks and Callahan chipped in with nine points and five steals. Josh Ernst (Rome, NY) led SUNY Poly with 10 points and eight boards. O'Dell totaled nine points to go along with a block.
WPI connected 50.8% of field goals attempted and knocked down 47.1% from outside the arc. The Engineers nabbed 17 steals, led by Callahan and Lufkin with five apiece, and registered 26 points off turnovers. SUNY Poly shot 31.7% on the afternoon with just 15.4% made from behind the 3-point line. The Wildcats received 14 bench points and 22 points in the paint.
Both teams now have some extended time off for the holidays. WPI is back in action on Friday, December 30th at 2pm, hosting the nation's new No. 1 team St. Joseph (CT). SUNY Poly is off until 2023, traveling to Maine Maritime and Thomas for back-to-back NAC contests on Friday, January 6th and Saturday, January 7th.
Recap written by WPI Sports Information Student Assistant Maya Vartabedian