| 1/25/2003 12:01:26 AM
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ROCHESTER, N.Y.—The Rochester Institute of Technology men’s basketball improved their record to 9-4 overall and remained undefeated at 3-0 in the Empire 8 with the 68-54 victory over the Bombers at a maximum capacity Ben Light Gymnasium.
The Tigers jumped out to a 12 point lead in the first ten minutes of play. Sean Murphy (Buffalo, NY/Williamsville North) (Buffalo, N.Y.) led this attack hitting 4-4 from behind the arch. His first coming at 17:31 and the final at 14:11, Murphy’s in-your-faced three’s gave RIT the push they needed to get past a strong, aggressive Bomber defense.
RIT shot an astounding 48 percent the first half connecting on 11-23 from the floor. Ithaca battled back with sophomore Jesse Roth (Saratoga Springs, N.Y.) pacing the Bombers with 13 points. Roth’s 41 percent accuracy from three-point range leads the Empire 8. However, Dan Cerro’s (Union Springs, N.Y.) defensive efforts shut down Roth’s outside shot preventing him from hitting any threes for the contest. RIT closed out the first half leading by three.
Fran Snyder (Buffalo, NY/Bishop Timon St. Jude) (Buffalo, N.Y.) pressed Ithaca’s defense heading RIT’s second half attack. Driving through the land Snyder was sent to the charity strip nine times connecting on eight of those. Snyder finished the night with 20 points and grabbed three boards. With the efforts of teammates Murphy and Mike Stanton (Honeoye Falls, N.Y.) the Tigers had the offense resources to seize the 13 point win. Murphy and Stanton ended the night with 14 and 10 points, respectively.
RIT will return to action tomorrow when they will face the Elmira Soaring Eagles.
