TERRE HAUTE, Ind. -- The Rose-Hulman men's basketball team earned a gritty win over the Olivet Comets on Tuesday with a final score of 85-81. The win improves the team to 7-4 overall this season. 

Christian Torres had an incredible performance, recording a near double-double with a team-high 23 points and nine rebounds. Torres Shot 8-12 from the floor and 7-12 from the free throw line to lead the Fightin' Engineers. Evan Gentile also thrived, posting a career-high 22 points, shooting 6-11 from beyond the arc. 

Other double-figure scorers included Joey Schmitz with 14, Nate Smith with 12, and Will McElheney with 10. Smith was the facilitator for the Fightin' Engineers with a career-high seven assists to lead the team. 

The score remained close throughout the first half. Both teams stood tied at 26-26 after a made free throw by Torres with 4:24 left in the first half. Olivet took the lead at the buzzer on a half-court shot that put them ahead 36-34 as the game headed to halftime. 

The Comets built their lead to as large as eight points in the second half, with the score at 48-40 in the first four minutes. Rose-Hulman battled back to keep the game in reach. After being down 62-58, Torres went on a tear, scoring all of Rose-Hulman's points on an 11-7 run to tie the game at 69-69 with 7:37 remaining on the clock. 

Olivet stretched their lead back to five with the score at 76-71 with 4:35 remaining. Then Gentile caught fire from beyond the arc, draining back-to-back three-pointers while the Comets hit one free throw to tie the score at 77-77 with 2:43 left in the game. 

The Comets took the lead once again at 81-79 with 1:30 left. Gentile gave Rose-Hulman the lead for good after a strong finish on a driving and-one layup. He sunk the free throw to make the score 82-81 with 1:18 left in regulation. Torres closed out the win at the free-throw line to finish off the Comets in a thrilling victory.  

Rose-Hulman will return to HCAC play after winter break, hosting Berea on Saturday, January 3, at 3 PM.