Further, Cortland was considered the best team in the state. They had earned the top seed in the ECAC Upstate Tournament by making it to the SUNYAC championship game.

The chances seemed slim that the Red Hawks’ season would live past Wednesday night.

In the first half the Red Dragons, who play a slow more deliberate style, seemed to be sluggish. On the down side, the Red Hawks lost the services of Guard Darryl Gentry, who suffered a knee injury. Still, Cortland was unable to connect on shots, giving the Red Hawks a window of opportunity. Addionally, Tri-Captain Tom Carrk was limiting Cortland’s Tom Williams, considered by many to be the state’s best player.

With the game tied and 12:17 showing on the clock in the first half, Rensselaer went on a 10-0 run over the next three minutes. Suddenly, the Red Hawks were in control and the Red Dragons were unable to cut into the lead. At halftime the Red Hawks led 34-25.

In the second half, the Red Hawks continued to move along until Cortland seemed to be hit in the face with a sudden sense of urgency. As the clock wound down, the Red Dragons began to make their comeback effort and got as close as 2, when Williams hit a lay-up. With the clock still showing 1:40, it seemed like anybody’s game.

The Red Hawks went up by 4 before Cortland’s Adam Blauweiss connected on a jumper to make it 58-56 with just 42 seconds left. But this would prove to be the Red Dragons final score.

Rensselaer responded by holding the ball and allowing the clock to run down. With just 12 seconds showing on the clock, the Red Hawks attempted a jump shot that fell short. Forward Kyle Kornelis, who finished with 12 points, pulled down the rebound and Cortland committed a season-ending faux pas when they intentionally fouled Tri-Captain Bobby Hurley as the shot clock was about to go off. With just 12 seconds left Hurley, who finished with 14, connected on one of two free throws. He made two more several seconds later to seal the Red Hawks’ win, 61-56.

With the win, Rensselaer moved on to play in the semifinals, facing the Blue Knights of Geneseo.

The Red Hawks had high hopes coming into the game, but the Blue Knights came out hot. Geneseo shot 70 percent in the first half and were playing with a great deal of intensity. RPI struggled to get going, leading to a 36-16 lead for the Blue Knights at the half.

In the second half the deficit got larger before the Red Hawks finally started to make any inroads. They got as close as 14, but there was not much time left; the Blue Knights simply continued to manufacture scores, winning 72-54.

Guard Kevin Moore netted 14 points, including four long 3-pointers that helped the Red Hawks come back in the second half. Gentry had 12, keeping Rensselaer in the game.

This was the final game for the team’s seven seniors. During their four years, these players have helped turn around a program that won just six games their freshman year, winning at least 16 each of the last three years and making two ECAC semifinals and two UCAA championship games.