UTICA, N.Y. – The Colby-Sawyer men's basketball team fell in the Utica University Classic consolation game Saturday afternoon to Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI) by a 73-48 final.

Rapid Recap:

• Junior Bullen Taban (Phoenix, Ariz.) kicked off the contest for the Chargers with a layup before the Engineers would go on a quick 7-0 run off of a Charger turnover and pair of missed shots. A defense rebound and push in pace from junior Jaisan Parker (Durham, N.C) ended in a made jumper from the upperclassman. Halfway through the first period the Engineers held a seven-point advantage after a made jumper from Avery Eugster in the paint. The Chargers looked to maintain defense pressure with junior Mike Joanou (Burbank, Calif.) notching a steal, but the two teams would struggle to put down a made bucket. Taban would break the drought with an and-one layup with seven minutes left to play bringing the score to 16-12 in favor of RPI. A pair of threes from Yechiel Steward and a pair of fast break layups from the Engineers would bring their lead to 12. The half would end with a made free throw from junior Chaz Cullum (Omaha, Nebraska).
• Taban would continue to roll for the Chargers earning the first bucket of the second half in the paint. The Engineers would take over the next four minutes taking a 23-point advantage. A Parker layup off of Cullum dish would temporarily stop the run but the Engineers capitalized off of the charity stripe with Dylan Matchett adding his name to the box score and Avery Eugster jamming down a dunk in transition. Halfway through the half first year Sean Peterson (Chester, N.H.) would step up and knock down a triple to bring the gap to 14 points. Parker would attempt to keep the Chargers in the game with six minutes left in the half with an and one jumper in the paint but turnovers from the squad would haunt them down the stretch. Parker would notch the final bucket of the game with nine seconds left to play bringing the final score to 73-48 in favor of RPI.

Inside the Numbers:

• Taban notched a double-double in the loss with 11 points (5-11 FG, 1-1 FT), 12 rebounds and two assists. Parker added a solid performance with 15 points (7-20 FG, 0-4 3PT, 1-4 FT), five rebounds and three steals.
• Eugster led the Engineers with 15 points (5-14 FG, 0-6 3PT, 5-6 FT) and seven rebounds, while Matchett and Angbazo added 13 each.

Up Next: 
The Chargers will host Tufts University to start the new year on January 2^nd with a 3:00PM start.