| 1/29/2008 9:41:47 PM

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ITHACA, NY - The RIT men's basketball team (10-8, 4-5 Empire 8) reverted back to its winning ways, shooting 54 percent from the field in the second half en route to defeating Ithaca (11-7, 7-3 Empire 8) 82-70 at the Ben Light Gymnasium on Tuesday evening.

RIT never trailed during the contest and was able to fend off a handful of Ithaca runs throughout.  The Bombers cut RIT's lead to 49-48 with 13:51 left, but the Tigers scored the next nine points to go up 10.  Ithaca chipped away again to cut the RIT lead to 60-58 with 8:22 left, but once again the Tigers responded with a 14-3 run over the next five minutes to take a 74-61 lead.

The Tigers did not make a field goal in the last 3:28, but scored their final eight points via the free-throw line.  RIT hit eight of their final 10 free throw attempts, including six straight by the duo of Nate Korinchak (Strongsville, OH/Strongsville) (Strongsville, OH/Strongsville) and Shane Foster (Woodland Hills, CA/Calabasas) (Woodland Hills, CA/Calabasas).

Junior center Mark Carson (Voorheesville, NY/Voorheesville) (Voorheesville, NY/Voorheesville) recorded his third straight double-double and ninth of the season, with 15 rebounds and 14 points.  Kenny Gethers (Syracuse, NY/Bishop Grimes) (Syracuse, NY/Bishop Grimes) had 13 points, six rebounds and three assists.  Sophomore guard Adam Sweet (Weedsport, NY/Weedsport) (Weedsport, NY/Weedsport) was also in double figures with 10 points.

Korinchak chipped in with nine points, while Colin Roy (Malta, NY/Ballston Spa) (Malta, NY/Ballston Spa), Rick Whitwood (Wellsville, NY/Wellsville) (Wellsville, NY/Wellsville) and Randy Muldrow (Buffalo, NY/City Honors) (Buffalo, NY/City Honors) had eight points each.  Roy also had four assists, while Muldrow was perfect from the field.

RIT's defense, which had allowed over 50 points in the second half in each of the last two games, held Ithaca to just 34 second half points.

The Tigers shot 48 percent from the field, while Ithaca hit 41 percent of its shots.  The Bombers held a slight 42-40 edge on the boards.  RIT turned the ball over 12 times to just 11 for Ithaca.

Sean Leahy led Ithaca with 20 points, while Jeff Bostic had 19 rebounds to go along with 15 points.  RIT held Sean Burton, Ithaca's leading scorer, to just seven points, on 3-of-16 shooting from the field.

It is the second consecutive season that the two teams won on its opponent's home court.  Just 10 days ago, Leahy hit a 3-pointer at the buzzer, as the Bombers stunned RIT 87-85 in front of a sellout crowd at the Clark Gymnasium.

RIT is back in action on Sunday, as they travel to play #17 Stevens at 4 p.m.  RIT handed Stevens its first loss of the season on Jan. 4.