The Red Hawks traveled to Cazenovia before the break and came away with a come-from-behind 81-76 win.
The contest was a close one, with the Red Hawks falling behind late in the second half before composing themselves and putting the Wildcats away. This was a big win for Rensselaer, who had dropped several other games on the road earlier in the season. The team showed a large amount of composure, which will prove key if they are to fare well in the UCAA.
Senior Kahlil Fitzgerald turned in a strong performance with 18 points on 8-for-11 shooting, which included a dunk. Senior Tri-Captain Bobby Hurley also netted 18, connecting on all four of his three-point attempts. Junior Kyle Kornelis collected a double-double netting 10 points and 10 boards, while Junior Darryl Gentry added 10 and Senior Tri-Captain Tom Caark netted 8.
Following the break, the Red Hawks returned home to take on Stevens Tech. This would prove to be the most disappointing loss for Rensselaer all season, as they fell 71-52.
The game was ugly from the get-go, as the Red Hawks continually turned the ball over. Rensselaer did make a comeback late in the second half, cutting the lead to 7 and possessing the ball, but a no-call on an apparent blocking foul and a bizarre three pointer by Stevens’ Chris Gavina took the wind out of the Red Hawks’ sails.
In the end, the Red Hawks simply looked flat and suffered because of it.
For the evening, Caark totaled 13, while Senior Doug Ullrich had 9. Junior Dean Pierce had 8, while Hurley added 7 and Senior Tri-Captain Justin Leonard also connected for 7.
This loss was a real setback for the Red Hawks, who begin UCAA competition this week. Each of the coming games will be important, as the regular season records will decide the seeding for the UCAA tournament. The winner of the tournament gets an automatic NCAA bid.
This weekend, the Red Hawks play host to Hobart and Hamilton at the Armory.
