Men's Basketball | 2/3/2012 8:50:00 PM

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POTSDAM, NY -- Despite a second half comeback, the RIT (6-13, 2-8 Liberty League) men's basketball team was defeated 83-71 by Clarkson Univeristy in Liberty League action on Friday night.

RIT trailed 15-2 early in the first half, starting the game shooting 2-for-11, trailing 56-24 at the half.

The Tigers played much better in the second half, outscoring the Golden Knights 47-27.

RIT kept cutting into the Clarkson lead steadily thoughout the second half, pulling to within seven points with 5:15 to play on a three pointer by Gabe Nicasio (Essex Junction, VT/Essex). That capped off a 12-0 run by the Tigers that spanned 4:47. Brendan Harder (Oneonta, NY/Oneonta) and Justin Heisig (Levittown, NY/Island Trees) had four points apiece in the run.

Clarkson stemmed the tied and held on for the 12-point win.

Nicasio led the Tigers with 22 points. He scored 20 of his 22 in the second half. He was 8-of-13 from the floor including five three pointers.

Harder finished with 16 points and grabbed nine rebounds. Heisig and freshman Desmond Scott (Murphy, TX/Plano East) each scored 10 points for the Tigers who fall to 6-13 overall.

RIT shot 47 percent from the floor in the first half on 27-of-58 shooting. RIT was 8-for-18 from behind the arc, including five in the second half.

Clarkson held a slight 37-35 rebounding edge.

RIT returns to action on Saturday, Feb. 4 for a 4 pm start at St. Lawrence University.