Men's Basketball Falls to Fisher on Late Bucket

Steve Jaynes - SID

Kyle Goff led RIT with 13 points and 10 rebounds in a 67-65 loss to Fisher on Friday.

| 2/20/2004 10:12:38 PM

ROCHESTER, NY -- In a battle for first place in the Empire 8 the RIT (15-9, 10-3 E8) men's basketball team lost a close game to St. John Fisher College, 67-65 this evening at St. John Fisher (18-6, 11-2 E8). The Cardinals' Sean O'Brien made a running jumper from 10 feet out with 4.6 seconds to play to give Fisher the win. The loss drops RIT into second place in the Empire 8 conference.

The first half went back and forth as the lead exchanged hands six different times. RIT enjoyed their biggest lead of the half when Kyle Goff (Manassas, VA) made one of two free throws after being intentionally fouled, giving RIT a 17-10 lead. Fisher answered right back with five straight points, taking a 17-15 lead. The lead exchanged hands several times at the end of the half and Tim Bacon (Massena, NY/Massena)'s (Massena, NY) basket with a minute to play gave RIT a 33-31 lead. Fran Snyder (Buffalo, NY/Bishop Timon St. Jude) (Buffalo, NY) added a layup with 49 seconds to play, giving RIT a 35-31 lead at the break.

The Tigers came out in the second half and scored the first four points, extending their lead to 39-31. The Cardinals answered with a 21-4 run, taking the lead back at 11:42 on a pair of free throws by Jeff Sidney. Fisher extended their lead to nine points on a layup by Matt Morley with 7:19 to play. On RIT's next possession Matt Borthwick (Highland Mills, N.Y./Monroe-Woodbury) (Highland Mills, NY) stopped the run when he nailed a three-pointer on an assist from Drew Martin (Oneonta, NY/Oneonta). Martin had a chance to cut Fisher's lead down even further but his three-point attamept went in and out.

The Tigers kept battling and with 1:40 to play Kyle Goff's three-pointer cut the Cardinal's lead to two at 63-61. Fran Snyder (Buffalo, NY/Bishop Timon St. Jude) tied the game at 63-63 with his layup with a minute to play. On Fisher's next possession he stole the ball frand drove in, making an uncontested layup. Sean O'Brien answered right back for the Cardinals with his jumper with 35 seconds to play, giving Fisher the lead back at 65-63. On RIT's very next possession Drew Martin (Oneonta, NY/Oneonta) tied the score at 65-65. He drove the ball to the net and made a tough layup with 21.7 seconds remaining.

Fisher called time out with 15.8 seconds remaining to set up the final play. The play worked as O'Brien drove to his right and floated a shot from 10-feet out that dropped in giving Fisher the lead with 4.6 seconds to play. RIT inbounded the ball and it wound up in Fran Snyder (Buffalo, NY/Bishop Timon St. Jude)'s hands. He drove down the length of the court and threw up a three-pointer at the buzzer, but the shot went long, giving St. John Fisher the win.

Kyle Goff led RIT with 13 points and 10 rebounds. Jesse Foote (Lockwood, N.Y./Spencer-Van Ettan) (Lockwood, NY) added 13 points and five rebounds, while Snyder added 11 points for the Tigers. RIT shot 37.1 percent on the game.

The Tigers round out the regular season on Saturday afternoon. RIT travels to Alfred University for a 4 p.m. tip-off.