Men's Basketball | 2/11/2011 9:49:43 PM

Box Score Click for Box Score

ONEONTA, NY -- The RIT men's basketball led by nine points early in the first half, but could not hold on losing at Hartwick College 90-83 in a key Empire 8 contest on Friday. Junior Justin Heisig (Levittown, NY/Island Trees) scored a career-high 31 points in a losing effort.

RIT led by nine points midway through the first half on a three-pointer by Anthony Terry (Rochester, NY/Bishop Kearney). The Tigers shot 39.4%from the floor in the first half on 13-of-33 shooting. Heisig and Terry each scored 13 points for RIT.

Hartwick stormed back, outscoring RIT 30-17 over the final 11:49 of the first half to lead 46-42 at the break. The Hawks shot 53.3% from the floor in the first half and were 6-of-15 from behind the arc.

The Hawks continued the hot shooting in the second half, shooting a sizzling 65.4% from the floor despite going 0-for-6 from three point land.

RIT rallied in the latter stages of the second half and pulled to within four points on four separate occasions including with 1:20 to play on a three pointer by Terry.

However, the Hawks made 5-of-7 free throws down the stretch to ice away the victory.

Heisig was 9-of-15 from the floor and 10-of-13 from the foul line for 31 points. The junior forward also had five rebounds for RIT who shot 44.4% from the floor.

Terry added 18 points and four rebounds, and senior Nate Korinchak (Strongsville, OH/Strongsville) added seven points, four rebounds and seven assists fro the Tigers who fall to 10-11 on the season and 7-5 in the Empire 8.

RIT will face Stevens in a critical conference battle on Saturday afternoon. Tip-off in Hoboken, New Jersey is at 4 pm.