Men's Basketball | 1/25/2009 5:53:46 PM

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ONEONTA, NY -- The RIT men's basketball team escaped with a 59-58 win over Hartwick College in Empire 8 action on Sunday afternoon. The win improves RIT to 12-4 overall andthe Tigers remain atop the Empire 8 standings with an  8-0 record.

Shawn Roe (Corning, NY/Corning East) (Corning, NY/Corning East) and Scott Young (Almond, NY/Hornell) (Almond, NY/Hornell) paced RIT offensively with 15 points apiece. Mark Carson (Voorheesville, NY/Voorheesville) (Voorheesville, NY) chipped in another outstanding effort scoring 14 points and grabbing 10 rebounds.

RIT trailed by as many as 13 points in the first half but rallied and trailed 30-25 at the half. After trailing 15-2 early, the Tigers outscored the Hawks 23-15 over the final 13:51 of the first half to get within striking distance.

RIT shot poorly in the first half, shooting 8-of-29 from the floor. The Tigers went 3-of-12 from behind the arc and were kept in the game by Carson and Young who scored 12 and nine points respectively.

The second half saw six ties and 11 different lead changes. RIT opened the half with a quick 5-0 run, tying the score on a Shawn Roe (Corning, NY/Corning East) three-pointer.

Hartwick answered and led by two when Adam Sweet (Weedsport, NY/Weedsport) (Weedsport, NY) drained a three, giving RIT a 35-34 lead.

The Hawks came right back and led by four points. Then, with RIT trailing by two Roe drained another three, giving the Tigers a 44-43 lead.

The lead went back and forth for several minutes until another Roe three-pointer, his third of the half, with 1:29 remaining gave RIT their biggest lead of the game at 57-52.

With 56 seconds remaining in regulation, Hartwick's Jan Coccozzielo was fouled by #Obi Ukachukwu (Freeport, NY/Freeport)# (Freeport, NY). He stepped to the line and drained both cutting RIT's lead to 57-56.

After a RIT turnover Coccozzielo drained a jumper, giving the Hawks a 58-57 lead with 26 seconds remaining.

On RIT's ensuing possession #Marcus Lowe (Anchorage, AK/Service)# (Anchorage, AK/Service) drew the foul driving to the basket. He made the first free throw and after a Hartwick timeout, calmly stepped up and drained the second giving RIT a 59-58 lead.

Coccozzielo's three-pointer at the buzzer was off the mark giving RIT their eighth conference win of the season and fifth straight.

RIT is off until Firday, January 30 when they take on Utica College. Tip-off is at 8 pm in Utica, New York.