Men’s Basketball Winning-Streak Snapped in OT at Union – Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute Athletics

SCHENECTADY, NY- The Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI) men’s basketball team had its five-game winning streak snapped in overtime tonight at Union.

The Engineers trailed by two with 26 seconds left in the extra session, however Chuck Clemons three-point attempt was off mark, giving the Garnet Chargers a 79-77 home Liberty League victory.

A hot first half by the Engineers was matched Union in the final 20 minutes. RPI lead by 12 at halftime after shooting 64 percent (16-of-25) to start the game, however that lead was erased after Union hit 52 percent (15-of-29) of its shots in the second half.

Yechiel Stewart helped RPI to its halftime advantage with 10 points on 4-of-4 shooting in the first half. Union posted a second-half stretch that featured 10 makes on 11 shots, including five straight made three-pointers.

The two sides traded the lead four times and tied on five occasions in the final nine minutes of regulation before ending in a 70-70 deadlock. The back and forth action continued to overtime, where the advantage flipped four times before Matthew Garside’s free throws put Union ahead for good with 53 seconds remaining.

Four Engineers tallied 10 or more points tonight, with Dylan Matchett topped the group with 16 points. Chuck Clemons and Andrew Deppe registered 14 and 12 points, respectively, and Stewart finished with 10.

Garside and Tanner Tedesco scored 21 points each in the victory for Union. 

The Engineers will turn their sights to a 4:00pm tilt at Ithaca tomorrow afternoon.