TROY, N.Y. – The Vermont State University Castleton men's basketball team fell to Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute on Wednesday evening, 63-55.

VTSU Castleton got off to a strong start, powered by eight points from Ben Seiler and a layup by Zach Thompson to own a 10-6 lead in the opening five minutes.

The momentum switched directions as the hosts put up a nine-point run, which was finally halted by a Tray Blount.

The transfer made his name known as he scored five points in under 30 seconds to bring the Spartans withing four (19-14) with 8:29 remaining in the first half.

The score continued to show in favor of the Engineers, as they led 33-22 at the break.

Despite VTSU Castleton's best efforts to keep the contest close, RPI was able to mount a 17-point advantage with 10:34 left on the game clock.

The Spartans began to cut into that lead on a Will Radcliff layup, helped along by Zach Thompson, igniting a seven-point run.

Thompson was big in keeping the run alive, extending play with an offensive rebound which he dealt out to Adam Bilodeau for a trey to make it 51-39.

In the squad's last attempt at a comeback, they strung together a trio of threes by Crisrael Lithgow, Justin Schwarzbeck and Seiler to trail by five with 2:09 remaining.

The Spartans' last point of the contest came off a Lithgow trip to the charity stripe.

While it came up short on the scoreboard, Castleton won the battle off the boards 30-27.

Offensive efforts were led by Seiler with his 17 points as he went 6-for-12 from the field, 4-for-10 from three.

Schwarzbeck did the best in rebounds, collecting seven, which he paired with his five steals.

A tale of two halves, the Spartans improved their field goal percentage from 33.3 percent to 54.5 percent, and their three-point percentage from 20 percent to 60 percent.

VTSU Castleton looks to reground and sets its eyes on Wednesday, November 20 as it hosts a 6 p.m. home-opening contest with Russell Sage.