TROY, N.Y. - Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute had four players in double figures on Saturday afternoon as the Engineers defeated the Vassar College Men's Basketball team 78-60 at the ECAV Arena. Senior Kevin McAuliffe tallied 16 points for the Brewers as they fell to 13-8 and 9-5 in conference action while the Engineers improved to 15-6 overall and are also 9-5 in Liberty League play.

Both teams traded scores back and forth over the opening 11 minutes of the first half before a McAuliffe triple at the 8:40 mark gave the Brewers a six point advantage (23-17). Back to back jumpers from Jonny Angbazo and an old-fashioned three-point play from Will Rubin pushed RPI ahead 31-29 with 3:34 left to play in the opening half. Vassar went back ahead with 38 seconds left on two free throws from senior Willem Nielsen but a three-pointer from Angbazo with 14 seconds left in the half gave RPI a 40-38 edge at the halftime break.

A triple from senior Zev Katz along with a jumper from Jack Rothenberg with 17:29 remaining put the Brewers up 45-42 but the Engineers responded once again as Brian Kelly knocked down a three to tie the contest up just under 17 minutes remaining. Following two made free throws from Rothenberg (15:59), the Engineers went on a 7-0 run, capped by five points from Dom Black, to go ahead 54-47 with just under 12 minutes to play. McAuliffe slowed the run with a three-pointer but the Engineers opened up their lead to 12 points with 6:28 left on a jumper from Black. Vassar could only get the lead down to nine in the final six minutes as RPI extended its lead to as many as 20 with 21 seconds left following a triple from Zisi Blades.

McAuliffe notched his 18 points on 6-for-11 shooting, including 4-for-8 from three point territory, and added two boards and two assists. Rothenberg tallied 13 points and nine rebounds while senior Ethan Ellis addded nine points. Senior Avni Mustafaj finished the contest with a team-high five assists and grabbed four boards.

Black finished with 18 points on 8-for-16 from the field while also grabbing a team-high eight rebounds. Rubin added 17 points, three boards, three steals and two assists while Angbazo finished an all-around day with 14 points, three rebounds, three blocks, three assists and two steals. Kelly rounded out the quartet of double figures scorers with 12 points and two steals with Avery Eugster tallying seven points, six rebounds and a game-high seven assists.

Vassar shot 37.8-percent on the game and made nine three-pointers and outscored RPI 17-8 at the free throw line. The Engineers were 47.5-percent from the field and converted on 12 triples. RPI scored the only points off turnovers with 20 and also held the edge in second chance points at 11-2 while converting 32 points in the paint.

VC will return to the floor on Friday evening as they head north to take on RIT at 7:30 p.m. RPI will travel to the north country for a matchup with St. Lawrence on Friday for a 7:30 p.m. tipoff.