The RPI men’s basketball team entered an important final stretch of the season as five games are all that remain on the schedule. This week RPI hit the road for two match-ups with Skidmore and Union College. With the playoffs in sight and their record standing at 11-9, the Red Hawks still need a handful of wins to secure their place in the Liberty League Tournament, and after splitting the last three weekends’ series, two victories this week would be a very nice boost for the squad.
On Friday versus Skidmore, an 11-0 run put the Thoroughbreds up 15-4 right off the bat. Senior Jonah Haviland-Markowitz was the catalyst in the first half for the home team with solid play, working hard on his way to 14 points on the night. As Skidmore proceeded to shoot 44 percent from the floor, it looked as if everything was going their way.
The Red Hawks, however, would not surrender, and after battling hard for the entire half, led by junior Sam Simmons who scored six points in the first, reclaimed the lead at the 3:27 mark. Junior Sam Zullo then tied the game at 25, and minutes later Rensselaer claimed the lead and was able to hold on to a four-point advantage, 32-28, going in to the half.
In the second half, RPI completely turned the tables around as they became the aggressor. Coming out with a sense of urgency, the men used a 5-0 run to ignite an explosive offense that was ready to attack.
Throughout the remainder of the game, the Red Hawk lead increased from five to 17, and when the final seconds of the game clock ticked away and regulation came to an end, RPI found itself on top 67-53, earning an all important twelfth victory of the season.
Simmons was the high-man for RPI with 16 points in conjunction with five rebounds. Senior Michael Visker added nine points and junior Graham Gordon grabbed a game-high nine boards. Skidmore was paced by Haviland-Markowitz and freshman Jon Douglas who had 14 and 11, respectively.
The Red Hawks were back in action the next day versus the Dutchmen of Union. Union was on top for the majority of the first half, their largest lead being 10, but headed into halftime they were up just four, 37-33, as RPI closed out the half with solid basketball.
In the second half it was a total team effort that strengthened the RPI offense, and as the men turned their play around, it seemed as if more and more things began to go their way. At the 17:03 mark the game was tied at 41, but the Red Hawks used a 7-0 run
over the next four minutes to take a marginal lead.
With just over two minutes remaining in the game, the RPI lead was cut in half as Union now trailed by just three, 71-68, after a pair of free-throws. The Dutchmen missed a three point attempt with 37 seconds left as Head Coach Mike Griffin and company held their breath, but they were not out of the clear yet. Union had one last opportunity to tie the game as they gained possession after a missed RPI free throw, but they turned the ball over with 18 seconds remaining. Three final free-throws sealed the deal for the Red Hawks, who went on to win by a score of 74-68.
Rensselaer shot an impressive 58 percent from the field compared to Union’s 30 percent in the second. RPI also worked hard on the glass, controlling the boards and out-rebounding the Dutchmen 35-27.
Senior Neal Wesson led the way for the Red Hawks scoring 17 points and dishing out eight assists. Classmate Clay Hadley added 16 points and six rebounds while sophomore Graham Gordon tallied 13 and seven. Simmons and Visker chipped in with 10 points a piece. Union was led by senior Joe Mackey and junior Kyle Grimm who had each scored 16 points.
With these two important victories, RPI’s record now stands at 13-9 on the season. The men will be on the road again this weekend as the round out their season with games against Hobart and Hamilton.
