Men's Basketball | 1/23/2010 6:06:26 PM

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ROCHESTER, NY – The RIT men's basketball team (5-10, 1-5 Empire 8) picked up its first Empire 8 win of the season, 75-62 over Elmira (3-14, 1-7 Empire 8) at Clark Gym on Saturday. Five Tigers scored in double figures to lead the way.

Nate Korinchak (Strongsville, OH/Strongsville) and Scott Young (Almond, NY/Hornell) each scored 13 points to lead the way. Korinchak added six assists, five rebounds, and three steals. He also hit six straight free throws down the stretch to seal the win. Young drained three 3-pointers.

Brendan Harder (Oneonta, NY/Oneonta) scored 12 points, and added six rebounds, and two blocked shots. Anthony Terry (Rochester, NY/Bishop Kearney) and Marcus Lowe (Anchorage, AK/Service) tallied 10 points apiece. Lowe hit four consecutive free throws in the final minute to put the game away. Adam Haines (West Sand Lake, NY/Averill Park) nearly became the sixth Tiger to score in double figures, providing a spark off the bench with nine points, and four steals. He was 3-for-3 from the field and 3-for-3 from the foul line.

Bryan Mathews led all scorers with 18 points, eight boards, and five assists for Elmira. Jon Adamson chipped in with 10 points, while Nick Woitach added nine points for the Soaring Eagles.

RIT led by as many as 17 in the second half. The Soaring Eagles scored seven straight points, culminating with a 3-pointer by Bobby DiPiazza with 7:25 left that cut the Tiger lead to seven, 54-47. A jumper and lay-up by Lowe, and a lay-up by Haines pushed RIT's lead back to 13. The Tigers were never threatened from there.

Both teams shot well in the second half. Elmira was 13-for-21 (62 percent), while RIT shot 57 percent (13-for-23). Elmira out-rebounded RIT, 33-30, but turned the ball over 18 times to just 10 for the Tigers. RIT recorded 14 steals.

The Tigers used a 16-2 run late in the first half to break open a close game and take a 36-22 lead into the intermission. The Tigers led 22-20 with 6:40 remaining, when Haines converted a 3-point play, jump- starting the run. Young and Terry combined for 10 points on the surge, getting the Tigers the big lead.

RIT held Elmira to just 25 percent shooting over the opening 20 minutes of play.

RIT leads the all-time series between the two schools, 20-9, and has now won 11 straight against Elmira dating back to Feb. 7, 2004.

RIT is right back in action on Tuesday, as they travel to Alfred to play the Saxons at 6 p.m.