Men's Basketball | 2/11/2012 6:01:00 PM

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ROCHESTER, NY -- Junior Jameel Balenton (Syracuse, NY/Christian Brothers)'s four-point play propelled the RIT men's basketball team (8-14, 4-9 Liberty League) to a 73-71 win over Skidmore College (14-8, 8-5 Liberty League) on Senior Day from Clark Gym on Saturday. RIT, who trailed by five points with 1:42 to play, closed out the game on a 9-2 run. Senior Brendan Harder (Oneonta, NY/Oneonta) scored a career-high 36 points and grabbed 15 rebounds in the win for the Tigers.

With :15 remaining and RIT trailing by three, Harder found Balenton with a pass in the corner. He swished the deep three despite being fouled by Skidmore's Kevin Dahil, tying the score at 70-70. He calmly stepped up and made the free throw to give the Tigers a 71-70 lead.

On Skidmore's next possession, Brian Lowry missed a three pointer from the corner. Harder grabbed the rebound and was fouled immediately. He stepped up and made both free throws giving RIT a 73-70 lead with :04 to play.

With two seconds to play, Gerard O'Shea was fouled by Gabe Nicasio (Essex Junction, VT/Essex). He made the first free throw and missed the second on purpose, but Justin Heisig (Levittown, NY/Island Trees) secured the rebound and the win for the Tigers.

Harder, who's previous career-high was 33 points, scored 36 on Saturday on 11-of-18 shooting. He was 12-of-14 from the foul line and had a game-high 15 rebounds. He had 29 points back in November against Penn State-Altoona.

Nicasio added 14 points for RIT who shot 50 percent from the floor on 23-of-46 shooting. Heisig scored 11 and had five rebounds, while Nicasio led the Tigers with six assists.

O'Shea led Skidmore with 22 points, four assists, four rebounds and three steals. Melvis Langyinuo scored 14 points, while Terron Victoria and Brian Lowry each had nine points.

RIT held a 40-32 rebounding edge and scored 26 points in the paint. The Tigers scored 11 points off of eight Skidmore turnovers and scored 11 second chance points.

RIT returns to action on Tuesday, Feb. 14 when the Tigers host Union College a 8 pm.