Men's Basketball | 11/30/2011 8:36:00 PM

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PITTSFORD, NY -- The RIT (2-1) men's basketball team was defeated by Nazareth (4-1) 72-66 in the first round of the 46th Annual Wendy's College Classic at Kidera Gym on the campus of Nazareth College.

Nazareth advances to the semifinals where they will face the University of Rochester on Friday. RIT moves to the consolation round where they will face SUNY Geneseo on Friday, Dec. 2 at 6 pm at St. John Fisher.

RIT trailed by 10 points at the half, and by as many as 12 points in the the second half before making a late run.

Kurt Fenderbosch (Myrtle Beach, SC/Socastee) had three straight buckets to cut the Golden Flyers lead to three points on back-to-back-to-back possessions down the stretch. The junior finished with a team-high 18 points, including 10 points in the second half.

With the Tigers trailing by three and possession, Desmond Scott (Murphy, TX/Plano East) dribbled the ball off his foot while driving to the hoop, turning the ball back over to Nazareth. The Golden Flyers made the free throws on the ensuing possession to salt the game away.

Four players scored in double figures for the Tigers including Brendan harder who had 13 points and 10 rebounds. Justin Heisig (Levittown, NY/Island Trees) and Jameel Balenton (Syracuse, NY/Christian Brothers) each had 11 points for RIT. For Balenton, that was a career high.

RIT shot 41.3 percent from the floor on 26-of-63 shooting. The Tigers were 3-of-12 from three point land and 11-for-11 from the foul line. The Tigers held a 37-34 rebounding edge and committed 12 turnovers.