Men's Basketball | 11/22/2011 4:00:00 PM

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ALTOONA, PA -- The RIT men's basketball team opened the 2011-12 season with a 75-63 road win over Penn State Altoona on Tuesday afternoon. Seniors Brendan Harder (Oneonta, NY/Oneonta) and Justin Heisig (Levittown, NY/Island Trees) combined to score 49 of RIT's 75 points. Harder scored 29, while Heisig added 20 points.

Harder shot 13-of-19 from the floor, grabbed 11 rebounds, blocked two shots and had three steals.

Heisig was 7-of-14 from the floor and was 5-for-5 from the foul line. He grabbed seven boards, dished out three assists and had three steals for the Tigers.

RIT shot 48.3 percent from the floor, including 50 percent in the second half. The Tigers were 4-of-12 from three point land and made 15-of-20 free throws. 

The Tigers out rebounded the Lions 34-32 and scored 38 points in the paint. RIT scored 15 points off of 16 Penn State Altoona turnovers.

Holding onto a slim three point lead at the half, Harder gave the Tigers a lift coming out of halftime, draining a three to increase the Tigers lead to six points early in the half.

After a Nick Dobson (Corning, NY/Corning West) layup extended the RIT lead to eight points, the Lions went on a quick 9-0 run, taking a one point lead on a layup by Durant Harvin at the 16:27 mark.

Later in the half, a pair of Mitch Moyer free throws tied the score at 42-42 for the Lions.

On RIT's next possession, Heisig was fouled going to the basket, making the layup. He converted the free throw for the old fashion three-point play, giving RIT a 45-42 lead, a lead the Tigers would not relinquish.

Penn State Altoona would get as close as two points within RIT, but no closer as the Tigers were able to close out the game for the 12-point win.

Gabe Nicasio (Essex Junction, VT/Essex) and Sean Sweeney (Phelps, NY/Geneva) each scored seven points for the Tigers who will face Baptist Bible College on Saturday, Nov. 26 at 3 pm in Clarks Summit, Pennsylvania.

Dobson chipped in with eight points and had two blocks and three steals.