ST. LOUIS, MO. -- Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology senior Julian Strickland (Indianapolis/Pike) led four players in double figures with a career-high 31 points to lead the Fightin' Engineers past the University of Chicago 85-80 on Saturday night.
Strickland finished 11-19 from the field and 8-10 from the free throw line with eight rebounds and five assists to lead the performance. He previously scored 30 points in the 2012 HCAC Tournament title game victory over Transylvania University that launched the Engineers into the NCAA Tournament.
Junior Michael Hallstein (Hopedale, Ill./Olympia) added 14 points on 6-7 from the field. Junior Jimmy Miller (Indianapolis/North Central) added 11 points, and sophomore Matt Loesing (Elsberry, Mo.) also reached double figures with a career-high 10 points.
Other key contributors included senior Jordy Martin (New Albany) and senior Jake Dodd (St. Peters, Mo./Missouri-St. Louis) with seven points each. Martin also had a team-high six assists.
Nate Brooks, Sam Gage and Jordan Brooks led the Chicago offense with 15 points each. Royce Muskeyvalley, younger borther of Rose-Hulman graduate and former standout Munchie Muskeyvalley, added eight points and five assists for the Maroons.
Rose-Hulman shot 55% from the field in the contest and also hit seven three-pointers to win in the second game of the Washington University Lopata Classic.
For their efforts, Strickland and Martin earned spots on the all-Lopata Classic Team.
Rose-Hulman improved to 1-1 on the season, while Chicago stands 2-2. The Fightin' Engineers host Carroll University in the home opener next Saturday at 3 p.m.
