The men’s basketball team has started off its season well, losing a tough match to Southern Vermont in the season opener on November 20, but bouncing back with convincing wins over Swarthmore and Haverford this weekend.
RPI travelled to Bennington to open the 2001-02 campaign, and they kept the match close throughout. The Mountaineers led by five at the break and managed to keep the Red Hawks at bay in the second half for a 72-69 win.
The star of the game for Rensselaer was clearly sophomore Forward Jared Hite—he scored 22 points on eight-for-11 shooting, pulled down 14 rebounds, and picked up three steals. RPI also got good offensive production from Dean Pierce and Paris Moore, who scored 12 and 11 points, respectively. Senior Kyle Kornelis also made his presence felt with 10 rebounds.
Saturday’s match against Swarthmore also started off as a close affair—the Red Hawk lead was only five points after the first half—but Rensselaer broke the game open in the second half by holding the Garnet to five-of-24 shooting from the field to win the home opener 74-55.
Sophomore Guard Tom Blessing was the Red Hawks’ leading scorer with 15. Hite picked up another double-double, with 12 points and 10 rebounds, and Moore also contributed 12 points to the effort.
RPI completed the weekend sweep by crushing the Haverford Fords, 78-43. The Red Hawks dominated the contest throughout with deadeye shooting—Rensselaer went 31-for-56 from the floor, including four-of-10 from three-point range—and tough defense that held Haverford to an abysmal 23 percent shooting.
Hite again led the way for the Red Hawks with 19 points; Kornelis followed closely with 16 points. Both players had nine rebounds in the match.
The Red Hawks played Tuesday night against Williams College, but results of that match were not available in time for publication. The team’s season continues Friday with an 8 pm game at MIT.
