MEMPHIS, Tenn. -- A late rally by Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology fell short, as Louisiana College captured the Rhodes Invitational championship with a 74-62 men's basketball victory on Sunday afternoon.
Louisiana College built a 19-point lead at 66-47 with 5:04 remaining, before the Fightin' Engineers began their charge. Two free throws by Ryuji Aoki, a three-pointer from Charlie Aimone and another trey by Aoki brought Rose-Hulman within 69-60 with 2:14 remaining.
Two free throws by Luke Callahan trimmed the deficit even further to 69-62 with 56 seconds remaining, but Louisiana College made five free throws down the stretch to secure a 12-point victory.
Rose-Hulman rallied from an early deficit to close within 37-34 at the half by hitting 4-7 from three-point range and 6-7 from the free throw line. The Wildcats opened the second half strong to push the lead to double figures, prior to Rose-Hulman's late rally.
Aoki led Rose-Hulman with 17 points and finished 3-5 from the field with a team-high three assists. Callahan was also in double figures with 10 points and five rebounds. John Czarnecki added nine points and six rebounds.
Other key Engineer contributors included Aimone with seven points and five rebounds; Craig McGee with six points and six rebounds; Michael Lake with six points; and Samvit Ram with five points.
Louisiana College placed four players in double figures, led by Lashard Powell with 16 points and Devon Washington with 15.
Louisiana College improved to 3-1 on the season, while Rose-Hulman dropped to 1-1. The Fightin' Engineers will face Fontbonne University in St. Louis on Tuesday night.
