| 1/19/2008 6:33:09 PM

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ROCHESTER, NY -- RIT (9-7, 3-4 E8) held a 12-point second half lead over Ithaca (10-6, 6-2 E8) but the Bomber's Sean Leahy scored the final nine points of the game, including the game-winner at the buzzer, as Ithaca beat RIT 87-85 in Empire 8 action in front of a packed house at Clark Gymansium. The loss snaps a three-game winning streak by RIT.

With the Tigers holding a slim lead late in the second half Leahy hit three straight three-pointers for Ithaca, including the game-winner as time ran out.

Sean Burton pushed the ball up the floor after a missed free throw by Scott Young (Almond, NY/Hornell). He drove into the lane and spotted Leahy out on the wing. With a defender in his face Leahy elevated and drained the three-pointer as the buzzer sounded.

The Tigers looked to have the game well in hand leading 40-31 at half time and opening up a 14-point lead in the second half.

RIT opened the second half with a 22-17 run, increasing their lead to 14 points on a layup by Mark Carson (Voorheesville, NY/Voorheesville) (Voorheesville, NY) with 12:39 remaining in the half. He would finish with 13 points and grab nine rebounds.

The Bombers outscored the Tigers 40-23 over the final 10:39, including nine straight points by Leahy inside the last minute. Key turnovers and missed free throws by RIT down the stretch, allowed Ithaca to creep back in the game.

The Tigers shot 50% from the floor, but made just 12-of-22 free throws, while Ithaca made 18-of-23. Kenny Gethers (Syracuse, NY/Bishop Grimes) (Syracuse, NY/Bishop Grimes) led RIT with 20 points and 13 rebounds. Carson had 13 points and nine rebounds and Barrett Zeinfeld (Tucson, AZ/Catalina Foothills) (Tucson, AZ/Catalina Foothills) added 13 points. Colin Roy (Malta, NY/Ballston Spa) (Malta, NY/Ballston Spa) scored nine points, dished out nine assists and had two steals.