CANTON, N.Y. - Senior forward William Engelhardt (6'7''-F-1999) scored a game-high 17 points, including the first six of overtime to lead St. Lawrence University to a 50-42 win over Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute in the Liberty League men's basketball championship game Sunday at Ronald T. Burkman Gymnasium.

St. Lawrence (19-7), which has won eight straight games with four coming in overtime, earned its first Liberty League championship since 2010. The Saints received the Liberty League's automatic bid to the NCAA Division III Championship. The tournament field will be announced Monday at 1 p.m. RPI falls to 19-9.

St. Lawrence, the second seed in the tournament, won both of its tournament games in overtime. The Saints defeated Hobart 80-78 in overtime in the semifinals on Friday to advance to the championship. St. Lawrence earned the right to host when fourth-seeded RPI knocked off top-seeded Ithaca in the other semifinal, 49-44.

This league is so tough, and to win two games in overtime to get the championship is a testament to how tough and well coached the teams in this league are, "said St. Lawrence head coach Chris Downs . This environment, all the students, fans, and families, came out and the campus spirit was as good as I've seen it in 25 years.

The championship game was a defensive battle from the outset. RPI led 17-13 midway through the first half, but St. Lawrence used an 18-4 run over the final nine minutes of the half to take a 31-21 lead at the break. Senior forward Trent Adamson (6'7''-F) scored six during that stretch while Engelhardt contributed five.

The Saints opened up their largest lead of the game, 40-28, on a layup by senior guard Miles Davis (6'4''-G) with 13:08 left. But RPI clamped down defensively, holding St. Lawrence to one basket the rest of the half and no points over the final eight minutes of regulation.

The Engineers chipped away at the lead with senior forward Jonny Angbazo (6'5''-F) scoring seven of his team-high 11 points during a 14-2 run that pulled RPI even. A pair of free throws by senior guard Will Rubin tied the game at 42-42 with 3:19 left, but neither team could find the basket the remainder of the half.

St. Lawrence jumped on top early in overtime as Engelhardt connected on a foul line jumper at the 4:34 mark to put the Saints on top to stay. After each team failed to convert on its next three offensive trips, Rubin connected on a jumper with 1:48 left to give the Saints a 46-42 lead.

RPI had a chance to cut into the lead, but was unable to convert from the free throw line on a one-and-one with 30 seconds left and was forced to foul. Engelhardt calmly drained a pair of free throws with 22 seconds remaining and junior guard Trey Syroka (5'11''-PG) iced the win with a pair of free throws with nine seconds left. St. Lawrence outscored RPI 8-0 in overtime, holding the Engineers without a basket in eight attempts - all from 3-point range.

For the game, St. Lawrence employed a tough zone defense for most of the game, limiting the Engineers to 31.7 percent shooting, including 5-for-34 (14.7 percent) from beyond the arc.

Syroka, was named the tournament's Most Outstanding Player, finishing the two games with 22 points, 11 assists, five rebounds, and four steals while playing 41 minutes per game.

It's kind of a surreal moment, "said Syroka. "The goal all year was to win the championship, but when you actually do it, it's hard to believe. I want to shoutout my teammates, we've grinded all year for this, it feels really good to get it done.

Engelhardt recorded a double-double with 10 rebounds to go along with his 17 points. Adamson contributed 12 points and Syroka 10 points and six assists without a turnover.

Courtesy of libertyleagueathletics.com

All-Tournament MVP: Trey Syroka (5'11''-PG) of St.Lawrence
Player of the Year: Jackson Meshanic (6'7''-F) of Hobart
Defensive Player of the Year: Dom Black (6'2''-G) of RPI
Rookie of the Year: Aren Cummings (6'5''-F) of Union, NY
Coach of the Year: Chris Downs of St.Lawrence

All-Liberty First Team 2023

Adamson

Black

Kupstas

Meshanic

Radovich

First Team
Trent Adamson (6'7''-F) of St.Lawrence
Dom Black (6'2''-G) of RPI
Tautvydas Kupstas (6'4''-G-2000) of Skidmore
Jackson Meshanic (6'7''-F) of Hobart
Luka Radovich (6'6''-F) of Ithaca

All-Liberty Second Team 2023

Angbazo

Greene

Mustafaj

Syroka

Wendell

Second Team
Jonny Angbazo (6'5''-F) of RPI
Riley Greene (6'0''-PG) of Elms
Avni Mustafaj (6'2''-G) of Vassar
Trey Syroka (5'11''-PG) of St.Lawrence
Logan Wendell (6'1''-G) of Ithaca

All-Liberty Honorable Mention 2023

Rothenberg

Ryan

Skoric

Walker

Honorable Mention
Blake Gearhart (6'1''-G) of Clarkson
Jack Rothenberg (6'4''-G/F) of Vassar
Kevin Ryan (6'6''-F) of RIT
Greg Skoric (6'11''-C/F) of Skidmore
Patrick Walker (6'4''-G/F) of Hobart