HAMBURG, N.Y. – In their third trip to the Hawks Against Hunger Tip-Off Tournament, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI) captured the Engineers first title game this afternoon. 
 
The Hawks suffered a 99-76 defeat at home and opened the season at 1-1.

Earlier in the day, SUNY Morrisville posted a 99-89 victory over SUNY Potsdam in the consolation game.
 
Hilbert's Quran Briggs, Potsdam's Brandon Segar Jr, Morrisville's Shukell Brown and a pair of RPI players, Jonny Angbazo and Will Rubin were named to the 2022 All-Tournament Team at the conclusion of the two-day series.

HIGHLIGHTS

Quran Briggs and Edward Perez were the only two Hawks to reach double figure points, scoring 16 and 12 respectively.  Perez made all four field goal attempts and hit 4-of-6 from the foul line while Briggs tossed in five shots from the floor, hitting only one from downtown.
 
RPI is a one of the best teams ranked in Division III preseason poll and they played like they deserved to be there," said coach Rob deGrandpre.  "They were physical and shot the ball well.  But we did give ourselves chances yet we didn't capitalize when we should have."

HOW IT HAPPENED

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• RPI took an early lead, but Shaheem Ellis connected from downtown to lift the Hawks 10-9 just four minutes into the game.
• The Hawks held the lead except for one possession and fought off multiple tied score situations until RPI drilled back-to-back three-pointers to go up by six (35-29) with about four and half minutes left in opening half. 
• RPI hit two more shots behind the arc and took a 50-41 lead to the locker room.
• The Engineers never relinquished their hold on the scoreboard, maintained a double-digit margin and stretched it to 20-points with just about five minutes before the final horn.

GAME NOTES 

• RPI finished the game hitting 59.6-percent from the floor and knocked down ten 3-pointers (47.6%), seven in the first half when they started to find their rhythm.
• Hilbert shot the ball well from the floor (.469 percent) and were much better from the foul line today, hitting 26-of-33 attempts, but the Engineers defended the perimeter and limited Hilbert to eight 3-point attempts.
• RPI was credited with 21 assists on 34 made buckets, while the Hawks finished with only six assists on 23 makes.
• Zach Miller and Eric Jackson added nine points, Perez led the Hawks with six rebounds, four on the offensive glass.
• Hilbert converted only 12 points off turnovers while they gave up 33 to the visitors.

 UP NEXT

The Hawks (1-1) return to the Hafner Recreation Center this Tuesday when they participate in a double header with the Hilbert women.  The men's game tips at 5:30 pm followed by the women's game – both squads are hosting SUNY Fredonia in non-conference action November 15.