Troy, NY - A woeful first half appeared to crush the Clarkson University Men's Basketball team's chances at a win, but it turned out a 24-9 run over the final nine minutes by host Rensselaer would end the Golden Knights' hopes at clinching a Liberty League playoff berth on Friday, as the Green and Gold fell 63-49 to the Red Hawks.

The Golden Knights fell to 9-15 overall and 7-6 in the Liberty League, while Rensselaer held to its post-season hopes for one more day and moved to 6-7 in conference play and 11-13 overall. Clarkson's Liberty League playoff hopes have two chances: if the Knights beat Vassar on Saturday, the team will make it in as the third seed. If Clarkson loses to Vassar, but Rensselaer also loses to St. Lawrence, the Knights earn the fourth seed. However, if Rensselaer beats the Saints and the Knights fall to the Brewers, Clarkson will be tied with the Red Hawks, who will win the tie-breaker having beaten top-seeded St. Lawrence.

Clarkson struggled to score in the first half, making just 24.1 percent of its shots (7-for-29). However, a 17-5 run to start the second half had the Knights tied back up at 33-33 with just over 13 minutes remaining. After the teams jockeyed back and forth for the next few minutes, RPI's Sam Zullo hit a jumper to give the Red Hawks a 41-40 lead, one which the team would not relinquish for the rest of the game as the team finished off a 24-9 run for the win.

Sophomores Brandon Linton (Queens, NY) and Keith Murray (Queens, NY) each scored 11 points to lead the Knights, with Murray also grabbing nine rebounds. Ryan Smith (Niagara Falls, NY) also contributed 10 points and 8 rebounds. Sam Simmons led RPI with 18 points and 18 rebounds while Graham Gordon added 17 points.