KNIGHTS FALL IN SHOOTOUT AT RPI

In the first ever meeting between the two programs, the New York men's basketball team was defeated by Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute 102-85 in a non-conference game in Troy, NY. Berkeley fell to 2-2 for the season with the loss.

The Knights managed to weather an initial assault of three point shots by the home team and built a six point cushion. A layup by junior center Elijah Craig (Brooklyn, NY/Seward Park) gave Berkeley a 29-23 lead with 8:42 in the first half. But the lead quickly evaporated as the RPI shooters began to find their range and the home team took a 50-43 lead into halftime.

RPI would extend their cushion to 15 points by beginning the second half on a 10-2 run before Berkeley would begin its comeback. Junior forward Danzel Whyte (Brooklyn, NY/Teachers Prep) converted two free throws to cut the margin to 13, then a steal by senior guard Kaseem Williams (Brooklyn, NY/Boys & Girls) turned into a three-point play to slice the deficit to 60-50. Following a missed RPI shot, senior forward Jose Stable (Brooklyn, NY/EBC High School) fed a pretty pass to Craig for a dunk to trim the lead to eight. Stable then stole the ball on the next RPI possession for a layup to end the 9-0 Berkeley run to cut the lead to six at 60-54. Berkeley managed to keep within single digits for most of the second half but free throws down the line would extend RPI's margin of victory to double digits.

Williams led all Berkeley scorers with 28 points while adding three assists and three steals. Stable added 25 points while pulling down 16 rebounds and dishing out six assists. Craig notched his second double-double of the season with 10 points, 11 rebounds and five blocks. Whyte also was a force inside grabbing 15 rebounds. Overall the Knights outrebounded RPI 70-58 but were plagued by a season high 33 turnovers and poor three-point shooting (1-14 overall).

Berkeley's next game will be Sunday, December 2nd at 3:00 PM at Sarah Lawrence College in an HVMAC matchup.