| 12/30/2003 9:42:47 AM

GENEVA, NY- The RIT men's basketball team started their 2003-2004 season with a win over the Statesmen of Hobart College at Hobart's Bristol Gym last night.

The first half was controlled by the Statesmen, as RIT was unable to put away many of their early scoring chances. Hobart went on a 7-2 run to start the game. Fran Snyder (Buffalo, NY/Bishop Timon St. Jude), John Johnson (Hamburg, N.Y./Frontier Central) and Kyle Goff shared the scoring for most of the half. Snyder was 4-for-5 including a three-pointer, and 2-for-3 from the free throw line. Johnson was 2-for-2 from the free throw line, and Goff was 4-for-4 with one three pointer. Hobart clearly had the advantage throughout, due to the solid play of Colby Feane and Michael Manning, who led the Statesmen with 11 points in the half. At one point, Hobart held a ten-point advantage, leading 26-16, but the Tigers came back, and the score stood at 38-25 at the half.

Momentum in the second half, however, belonged to the Tigers. Kyle Goff was 5-for-5, including a three-pointer, and Matt Borthwick (Highland Mills, N.Y./Monroe-Woodbury) and Jesse Foote (Lockwood, N.Y./Spencer-Van Ettan) turned in solid performances as well. Borthwick hit a key three pointer midway through the half that kept RIT's offense going, and Foote was 4-for-4 from the free throw line, adding a key block for the Tigers on defense. RIT was able to capitalize on several fast break opportunities, and slowed down the Statesmen's offensive attack. Late in the half, the Tigers held a 17-point advantage, but Hobart cut the lead to within nine. RIT continued to control the ball and keep Hobart off the board, however, and they held a ten-point margin as the final buzzer sounded. Kyle Goff posted a double-double on the night, tallying 23 points and 18 rebounds in his first game as a Tiger. Fran Snyder (Buffalo, NY/Bishop Timon St. Jude) also recorded 20 points on the night. The Tigers improve to 1-0 and will compete Friday and Saturday at the Skidmore Tournament.