| 1/21/2005 11:08:43 PM

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ROCHESTER, NY -- On the strength of some hot shooting from the floor the RIT (8-6, 2-1 Empire 8) men's basketball team defeated Ithaca College (5-8, 2-2 Empire 8), 86-70 in Empire 8 action Friday night.

The win ties RIT with Utica College for second place in the Empire 8.

Senior center Jesse Foote (Lockwood, NY/Spencer-Van Ettan) (Lockwood, NY/Spencer-Van Ettan) tied RIT's career record for blocks. He now has 208 for his career tying him with Charlie Bartlett '95.

RIT fell behind by five points early when Ithaca's Nate Thomas hit a jumper giving the Bombers an 8-3 lead.

The game went back and forth with each team exchanging baskets over the next few possessions, showcased by some hot shooting from behind the three-point line. The Tigers recaptured the lead on a three-pointer by Fran Snyder (Buffalo, NY/Bishop Timon St. Jude).

With 7:32 to play in the half Sean Stahn gave Ithaca a 29-26 lead with his layup on an assist from Jesse Roth.

RIT answered back and regained the lead, building it to six points late in the half on a pair of free throws by Jesse Foote (Lockwood, NY/Spencer-Van Ettan).

With time running out in the half Kyle Goff (Manassas, VA/Stonewall Jackson) (Manassas, VA/Stonewall Jackson) drained a three-pointer giving the Tigers a 41-36 lead at the break.

RIT shot 50% from the floor in the first half on 15-of-30 shooting. Goff led RIT with 14 points on 6-of-8 shooting and dished out four assists.

Fran Snyder (Buffalo, NY/Bishop Timon St. Jude) (Buffalo, NY/Bishop Timon St. Jude) added nine points, all of which came on three-pointers.

RIT continued their hot shooting in the second half, shooing 58.3% from the floor. Goff gave the Tigers their biggest lead of the game with a layup. The senior forward stole the ball and drove the length of the floor laying it in for a 46-36 RIT lead.

Ithaca closed the lead to three points when Nate Thomas nailed a three-pointer at the 16:43 mark, cutting the Tigers lead to 46-43.

That would be as close as the Bombers would get as RIT's defense clamped down, holding Ithaca to 33.3% shooting in the second half.

Goff paced RIT with 23 points on 9-of-14 shooting from the floor. Sean Murphy (Buffalo, NY/Williamsville North) (Buffalo, NY/Williamsville North) added 20 points and eight rebounds, while Fran Snyder (Buffalo, NY/Bishop Timon St. Jude) added 13 points.

The Tigers will host Elmira College on Saturday afternoon at 4 p.m.