With the win, RPI improves to 11-12 overall, including six wins in its last seven games, and 9-4 in the league. The Red Hawks are currently in third place in the league standings with one game to play. A win in Saturday’s season finale against Union (4pm) would clinch a berth in next weekend’s Liberty League Tournament. Skidmore, which closes out the regular season at Vassar on Saturday (4pm), falls to 4-19 overall and 1-12 in the league.
Rensselaer jumped out to an 11-1 lead on the Thoroughbreds and held the advantage throughout. RPI went on to outscore Skidmore by 11 points in both halves for the final margin.
Senior forward Tom Schneider (Nashua, NH/Bishop Guertin) led all scorers with 14 points and eight rebounds, including five offensive. Classmate Paul Halas (Sea Girt, NJ/St. Rose) added 11 points while junior forwards Mike Visker (Essex Junction, VT/Essex) and Clay Hadley (LaGrange, IL/Lyons Township) scored ten points apiece. Senior Russell Herman (Congers, NY/Clarkstown North) had five points and a game-high nine rebounds.
Sophomores Rich Toni (Madison, CT/Daniel Hand), who had 13 points, and Jonah Haviland-Markowitz (Brooklyn, NY/Packer Collegiate Institute), who scored 12, paced Skidmore.