Men's Basketball Falls to Nazareth in Overtime

Steve Jaynes - SID

| 12/4/2007 10:26:40 PM

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ROCHESTER, NY – The RIT (3-2, 0-2 E8) men's basketball team dropped their second straight Empire 8 contest, losing to Nazareth College (4-1, 1-0 E8) 95-82 in overtime on Tuesday evening in Clark Gym. The Tigers erased a 19-point first half deficit and held a two-point lead late in the contest, but Nazareth's Corey McAdam hit a jumper at the end of regulation to send the game into overtime.

Nazareth jumped out to a 19-point lead early in the first half. Joe Canori's layup at the 6:38 mark of the first half gave the Golden Flyers their biggest lead of 37-18.

RIT responded, cutting the lead to 45-38 at the half thanks to a 20-9 run to close out the half. Barret Zeinfeld's three-pointer as the buzzer went off the end the half cut Nazareth's lead to 45-38.

RIT went 13-for-29 (44.8%) from the floor in the first half and Nazareth shot 19-of-35 (54.3%) from the floor.

Barrett Zeinfeld (Tucson, AZ/Catalina Foothills) (Tucson, AZ/Catalina Foothills) led RIT with 10 first-half points on 2-for-4 shooting. Mark Carson (Voorheesville, NY/Voorheesville) (Voorheesville, NY) added eight points and five rebounds. Scott Young (Almond, NY/Hornell) (Hornell, NY) had seven points and Kenny Gethers (Syracuse, NY/Bishop Grimes) (Syracuse, NY/Bishop Grimes) added six points and four rebounds.

Joe Canori led Nazareth with 11 points and Ryan McAdam added 10 points and nine rebounds for the Golden Flyers.

The Tigers kept the run going to the start of the second half, completing a 37-15 run with a Colin Roy (Malta, NY/Ballston Spa) three-pointer. That gave the Tigers a 55-52 lead, the first lead by RIT since it was 8-6 early in the contest.

The lead went back and forth until the Golden Flyers opened up a six-point lead at the 6:41 mark of the second half on a Canori three-pointer.

RIT battled back and was able to regain the lead on a three-pointer by Rick Whitwood (Wellsville, NY/Wellsville) (Wellsville, NY) and a bucket and a foul from Carson. Carson was fouled by Rayvon Hogdin on his way to the hoop. The shot went in giving him an opportunity to give the Tigers a two-point lead. He converted the foul shot giving RIT a 78-76 lead with 29 seconds remaining.

Ryan McAdam stepped up for the Golden Flyers. With time running out in regulation the sophomore guard drove the lane got his own rebound off a missed shot and dropped a runner to tie the game at 78-78, sending it into overtime.

Nazareth took control early in the overtime session and outscored the Tigers 17-4.

RIT shot 40.5% from the floor for the game, led by Kenny Gethers (Syracuse, NY/Bishop Grimes) who had 20 points and 14 rebounds. Mark Carson (Voorheesville, NY/Voorheesville) added 16 points and nine rebounds and Barrett Zeinfeld (Tucson, AZ/Catalina Foothills) chipped in 15 points and four assists.

Ryan McAdam led Nazareth with 20 points, 13 assists, five rebounds and five steals. Joe Canori added 23 for the Golden Flyers.

The Tigers hit the road this weekend for a pair of Empire 8 contests at Hartwick and Utica College.