When the Rensselaer men’s basketball team squared off with Union a year ago in their league finale, the stakes could not have been higher. The winner earned a birth to the conference playoffs; the loser’s season was over. Rensselaer found themselves in a similar position Saturday as they met the Dutchmen.
Heading into the weekend, RPI needed to win four of its last five games to earn a spot in the conference tournament. However, after a devastating 77-75 loss in the closing minute to Skidmore Friday, the stage was set for a must win against Union.
Friday night’s contest against the Liberty League-leading Thoroughbreds was as frustrating a loss as the Red Hawks had suffered all season. Rensselaer controlled the game for most of the night, but faltered in the game’s waning minutes. RPI held a 71-64 lead with just over six minutes remaining on the clock, but that would be more than enough time for Skidmore.
The Thoroughbreds went on a 13-4 run and snatched the lead and the game from the Red Hawks on a Michael Murray three-pointer with just 48 seconds remaining. RPI would have their chances to even the score. Paris Moore, Matt Zepernick, and Tom Schneider missed lay-ups and John Van Schaick’s three-pointer found iron.
Dana Martin, who was named Liberty League Co-Guard of the Week, scored a game-high 30 points and hit a school record eight three-pointers.
Seniors Moore and Van Schaick were outstanding again in the loss, scoring 19 and 18 points, respectively. Zepernick poured in 19 points and grabbed seven rebounds.
The loss Friday forced the Red Hawks against the wall versus rival Union. After an even first half, things began to look grim for Rensselaer in the second. With over 18 minutes left in the game, RPI trailed by seven, and to make matters worse, Van Schaick turned his ankle and had to be helped to the locker room. It was clear that RPI was going to have to make the comeback without their best long distance threat and their second leading scorer.
However, the RPI bench stepped up. Joe Johnson, Paul Halas, and Kori Massey all contributed solid minutes off the bench. Inspired by their reserves, the starters began to play with more enthusiasm. Schneider began to heat up and eventually Moore decided it was time for him to take over.
After a John Cagianello three-ball put Union up 51-49 with four minutes to go, Moore simply dominated. He answered the Dutchmen with eight straight points in just over a minute and a half. When Moore was finished, so was Union, as RPI had pulled out to a 58-51 lead. Rensselaer combined to make all six of their free-throws late to ice the game.
Moore finished the game with 21 points and seven rebounds. Schneider posted a double-double with 14 point and 12 rebounds, and Van Schaick tallied 11 points in just 17 minutes of action. Van Schaick’s ankle was not broken, but his status for this weekend is questionable. Rensselaer’s season sweep of the Dutchmen successfully gave RPI the tie-breaker over Union in the standings, a fact that could become extremely valuable after next weekend. RPI is currently tied for fourth place in conference, the final playoff spot, with Union.
However, Moore would have none of it as he poured in 26 points in the Red Hawks’ 61-58 win over Vassar. Schneider posted another double-double with 10 points and 10 rebounds.
The Red Hawks pulled out to a 49-36 lead, but Vassar rallied behind Judson Winton’s 27 points and seven three-pointers, eventually taking a one-point lead with 4:35 left in the second half.
Schneider would take back the lead for RPI with a lay up almost two minutes later, and Zepernick would extend the margin to four with a three-pointer. RPI would seal the game with solid free-throw shooting down the stretch.
The Red Hawks will have to match Union this weekend to make the playoffs. The Dutchmen play the conference’s two worst teams in—Clarkson and St. Lawrence—while RPI takes on playoff teams in Hobart Friday and Hamilton Saturday.
