Men's Basketball | 1/18/2013 9:43:00 PM

Box Score Click here for game stats

POTSDAM, NY - The RIT men's basketball team (4-10, 0-5 Liberty League) dropped its sixth straight game, falling 65-55 at Clarkson (11-4, 3-3) at Alumni Gymnasium. The Tigers held a 49-48 lead with 6:52 remaining but the Golden Knights outscored RIT 17-6 the rest of the way.

John and Jerry Coleman scored 17 and 16 respectively for the Golden Knights and Felix Abongo added 12 points and five rebounds. The Coleman brothers scored 24 of their 33 points in the second half.

The Tigers were led by 12 points from Nick Dobson (Corning, NY/Corning West) and 10 points from Jameel Balenton (Syracuse, NY/Christian Brothers)

RIT shot 44 percent from the field but converted on only 2-of-10 from behind the arc.

Clarkson shot 44.4 percent from the floor and hit eight three pointers.

Each team started out the game by connecting on four of their first six shots from the field and the game was tied at nine. The contest was evenly played for the first 12-and-a-half minutes until the Tigers used an 11-0 run to take a a 28-19 lead. Brendan Reinart scored six straight points for RIT as the Tigers held Clarkson without a field goal for 7:23. Dylan Hodownes' three for the Golden Knights ended the scoring in the first half, with RIT holding a 32-25 lead going into the half.

The Tigers held Clarkson to 32 percent shooting from the field and 27 percent from behind the arc.

RIT converted on 48 percent of their field goals and were led by Reinart's six points. Dave Lynch (Seneca Falls, NY/Mynderse Academy), making his first start of the season, added five points and two rebounds.

The second half saw each team go on runs trying to gain the upper hand. The Golden Knights started the second half on a 7-2 spurt as Jerry Coleman scored three straight baskets. The Tigers immediately responded with a 7-0 run to regain a 41-34 lead with 14 minutes in regulation. Clarkson rallied back to tie the game at 43 apiece, before RIT rattled off six straight. Clarkson roared back with twelve unanswered, capped by back-to-back buckets by John Coleman, to give Clarkson a 55-49 lead with 4:55 left.

Clarkson swept the Tigers last season, winning 92-85 at Clark Gym and 83-71 at Alumni Gymnasium.

The Tigers return to action tomorrow as they travel to St. Lawrence for a 4 p.m. contest.