TROY, N.Y. – Behind double-digit efforts from three players, the Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI) men's basketball team defeated Union College, 74-66 in Liberty League action on Saturday.  With the win – the team's fourth straight – the Engineers move to 14-7 on the season and 8-3 in conference play.  The Dutchmen drop to 10-13 overall with a 2-10 Liberty League record.

Rensselaer, which never trailed in the contest, led by as many as nine (16-7) in the opening half just 13:39 in.  The Engineers increased the margin to 11-points (21-10) on a jumper by Jones at 11:22, but the visitors didn't back down, closing the gap to four (21-17) on a layup and a pair of free throw makes by senior Drew Goldstein (Philadelphia, PA/The Haverford School).

The Dutchmen kept it close over the next two minutes, but a layup by junior Matthew Pooley (Middletown, NY/Chapel Field Christian School) and a jumper by rookie Joe Gibbons (Lindenhurst, NY/Saint John the Baptist) saw the home team regain an 8-point differential (27-19) with 4:45 left in the half. 

Back-to-back shots from Goldstein pulled the gap to just two (27-25)for the visitors, but solid shooting in the closing seconds, including a three-point shot from Pooley, had RPI heading into the locker room with a 34-29 advantage.

Union came out firing in the second stanza, pulling its deficit to just one (42-41) on a layup by junior Rusmir Dzanko (Essex Jct., VT/Essex).  It was a tight battle between the squads until the 11:07 mark as RPI went on a 11-0 run to grab a 59-46 advantage.  Leading the way during the stretch was senior Mike Hammond (Clifton Park, NY/Shenendehowa), who had four points and a steal.

Rensselaer, which recorded 15 points off 13 Union turnover's in the game, continued to press leading by 14 points (72-58) with 3:42 left before the Dutchmen began to mount a comeback.  Goldstein started the rally as he nailed a shot from beyond the arc and then added three more points to make it a 72-64 contest with 53 seconds left, but RPI benefited from late foul trouble to further seal the win.

In addition to Jones, who also had five rebounds and 5 of 8 from three-point range, the Engineers saw Hammond record 13 points (8 in second half) as well as a game-high three steals.  Pooley added 10 points.

For the Dutchmen, Goldstein poured in a game-high 23 points with a game-best three steals.  Sophomore Kevin Donohue (Hudson Falls, NY/Hudson Falls) added 12 points and nine rebounds, while senior Matt Covucci (LaGrangeville, NY/Our Lady of Lourdes) chipped in with 11 points and a game-best 11 rebounds.

The Engineers also honored their seven seniors in a pre-game ceremony, recognizing the efforts of Jones, Hammond, Andrew Darst (Tampa, FL/Jesuit), DJ Blakemore (Bloomfield Township, MI/Lahser), Jeremy Bull (Woodbridge, VA/St. Stephens & St. Agnes School), Mike Brion (Nashua, NH/Bishop Guertin) and Jeremy Moylan (Monroe, NY/Monroe-Woodbury).

Rensselaer is back in action on Tuesday, hosting Vassar in the Liberty League regular season home finale at East Campus Arena (8pm).  Union is in action next weekend, hosting Clarkson and St. Lawrence on Friday (8pm) and Saturday (4pm), respectively.