| 1/27/2004 9:38:13 PM
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ROCHESTER, NY -- Fran Snyder (Buffalo, NY/Bishop Timon St. Jude)'s (Buffalo, NY) free throws with 1:25 remaining in the second half proved to be the winning baskets as RIT held on for a 73-71 win over Nazareth College this evening at Clark Gymnasium. The win improves RIT to 10-6 overall and atop the Empire 8 standings with a 5-0 record.
RIT came out cold in the first half shooting 16 percent from the floor in the early going as Nazareth built a 15-point lead. The Tigers kept their composure, slowly whittling away at the Golden Flyers' lead. RIT's shots began to fall in the final seven minutes of the half as the Tigers outscored Nazareth 18-7 in that stretch. Drew Martin (Oneonta, NY/Oneonta)'s (Oneonta, NY) three-pointer with 58 seconds remaining in the half capped off the run, cutting Nazareth's lead to 40-36. The Tigers finished the half shooting 27.8 percent from the field on 10-of-36 shooting from the floor. Sean Murphy (Buffalo, NY/Williamsville North) (Buffalo, NY) and freshman Tim Bacon (Massena, NY/Massena) (Massena, NY) paced the Tigers with eight points apiece, while Luis Villalongo (Chicopee, Mass./Chicopee Comprehensive) (Chicopee, MA) added six points. Nazareth shot 50 percent from the floor in the opening half, led by Caswell Smith and Lawrence Maroney who each tallied eight points.
The Tigers carried their momentum over from the first half. Bacon got RIT to within two points at 40-38 with his layup off a Kyle Goff (Manassas, VA) steal for two of his game-high 18 points. Ryan Shipley answered right back for the Golden Flyers with his layup, giving Nazareth a 42-38 lead. That set the tone for the second half as each team battled every possession.
RIT took their first lead since the 17:48 mark of the first half with on a three-pointer by Sean Murphy (Buffalo, NY/Williamsville North). The Tigers built their lead to five-points on a layup by Jesse Foote (Lockwood, N.Y./Spencer-Van Ettan) (Lockwood, NY). The Golden Flyers would not go away as they battled back and tied the score at 54-54 on a basket by Justin Fladd. After a three-pointer by John Johnson (Hamburg, N.Y./Frontier Central) (Hamburg, NY) gave RIT a 57-54 lead the Flyers rattled off nine straight points, taking a 63-57 lead with 7:36 remaining in regulation. Drew Martin (Oneonta, NY/Oneonta), who contributed 10 points off the bench, stroked a three-pointer to stop the run and get RIT to within three points. He answered the call again, tying the score at 64-64 with a pair of free throws with 5:47 remaining. Both teams exchanged blows for the next few minutes and the Tigers found themselves tied once again at 69-69 with 2:23 remaining.
John Johnson (Hamburg, N.Y./Frontier Central)'s layup gave RIT a 71-69 advantage. Lawrence Maroney answered right back for Nazareth with a jump shot, tying the score at 71-71 with 1:45 remaining. On RIT's next possession Matt Groot fouled Fran Snyder (Buffalo, NY/Bishop Timon St. Jude), sending him to the line for two shots. Snyder calmly stepped up and drained both, giving RIT a 73-71 lead. Each team exchanged possessions and after a missed three-pointer by Martin Nazarth called a timeout with seven seconds remaining to set up a play. The Flyers inbounded the ball to Maroney who drove into the lane and pulled up for a jump shot. But the Tigers defense would not give him a clear look and the shot fell off the rim as time ran out giving RIT the win.
Tim Bacon (Massena, NY/Massena) led al scorers with 18 points on 6-of-9 shooting from the floor and 6-of-6 fom the foul line. Sean Murphy (Buffalo, NY/Williamsville North) added 11 points, while Martin scored 10. Kyle Goff and Luis Villalongo (Chicopee, Mass./Chicopee Comprehensive) each scored eight points, while Goff grabbed 17 rebounds.
The Tigers travel to Hartwick this Friday for an Empire 8 contest beginning at 8 p.m.
