| 2/19/2003 11:08:26 PM
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ROCHESTER, N.Y.—The Rochester Institute of Technology men’s basketball team not only battled for second place in the Empire 8, they challenged fans to reach into their pockets to raise money for the American Cancer Society. Tonight’s efforts on the court were not as successful giving the Golden Flyers the 82-80 victory at Clark Gymnasium. Even though RIT fell to Nazareth they donated over $1,250 to the American Cancer Society in memory of Coach Tom Downey.
The Tigers led from the Tip when 6-10 center Jesse Foote (Lockwood, N.Y./Spencer-Van Ettan) (Lockwood, N.Y.) slammed a dunk over the Golden Flyers defender ten seconds into the contest. Jimmy Evans (Binghamton, N.Y.) would answer with a three. Each team traded bucket for bucket until the 7:38 mark when Albert White (Addison, N.Y./Notre Dame) (Addison, N.Y.) would start the Tigers scoring run to close out the half with the advantage.
Entering the second half the Golden Flyers would take immediate action tying the game at 43-43. This did not stop RIT’s offense when the Tiger’s leading scorer Mike Stanton (Honeoye Falls, N.Y.) made the layup off the fast break. Again the Tigers would go on a nine point scoring run over the next three minutes. Nazareth’s Jake Steck (East Aurora, N.Y.) capitalized on a Tiger turnover hitting the three to put RIT up by two. Fran Zablocki (Buffalo, N.Y.) grabbed the offensive rebound off a missed shot by Steck to net the bucket giving the Golden Flyers their first lead of the game. With Clark Gymnasium filled the Tigers yet again took the lead with 9:59 remaining in regulation. Costly mistakes would allow Nazareth’s Evans to hit two quick buckets to seal the victory for the Golden Flyers.
Four Tigers scored in double figures in Stanton with 20, Fran Snyder (Buffalo, NY/Bishop Timon St. Jude) (Buffalo, N.Y.) with 13 while Foote and Sean Murphy (Buffalo, NY/Williamsville North) (Buffalo, N.Y.) added 12 and 11, respectively.
Evan’s closed out the night with 21 to lead the Golden Flyers to the victory and second place in the Empire 8. Nazareth improves to 18-5 overall and 9-3 in the Empire 8.
