POUGHKEEPSIE, NY -- A night after winning his 500th game, RIT (8-14, 4-9 Liberty League) men's basketball head coach #Bob McVean# and the Tigers held on to beat Vassar College 63-60 in Liberty League action on Saturday afternoon. The Tigers shot 52 percent from the floor in the first half and held off a late charge by the Brewers for the win.

#Jameel Balenton (Syracuse, NY/Christian Brothers)# led RIT with 20 points, including 14 in the second half. #J.P.# Reagan tallied 16 points, including 14 in the first half. #Eric Travis (Chicago,IL/Hinsdale South) finished with eight points and five rebounds.

RIT built up a 12-point lead in the first half thanks to some hot shooting from the floor. The Tigers shot 52 percent on 14-of-27 shooting. The Tigers went 5-of-8 from three point land and were 3-of-5 from the foul line, leading 36-24 at halftime.

Reagan led RIT with 14 points on 5-of-5 shooting. #Jameel Balenton (Syracuse, NY/Christian Brothers)# scored six points, grabbed two rebounds and dished out two assists.

RIT built on their lead in the second half, building a 56-42 lead on a three pointer by Balenton with 8:14 to play in the game. The 14-point lead was the largest of the game for the Tigers.

Vassar made a run in the closing moments, closing the Tigers lead down to five points with 3:23 to play on a layup by Curtis Smith.

With 3:32 to play, Balenton converted a pair of free throws, giving the Tigers a 60-53 lead.

On Vassar's next possession, Smith drained a three pointer, cutting the RIT lead down to four points at 60-56 with 3:19 to play. 

After a RIT miss, Vassar grabbed two offensive rebounds off missed shots, finally scoring on a tip-in by Alex Snyder, pulling the Brewers to within two points at 60-58 with 2:21 to play.

Both teams exchanged misses on their next possessions, before #Mike D'Amico (Pittsford, NY/Pittsford Mendon)# grabbed his own rebound off a missed three pointer with 1:28 to play in regulation.

#Eric Travis (Chicago,IL/Hinsdale South)# had his jumper blocked by Snyder with 1:09 to play and the rebound going to Evan Carberry giving the Brewers a chance to tie or take the lead.

Off the timeout, Smith missed the jumper. D'Amico grabbed the important defensive rebound with :28 seconds to play and RIT clinging to a 60-58 lead.

D'Amico made 1-of-2 free throws, but Travis came up with a huge offensive rebound off D'Amico's second miss forcing Vassar to foul.

Travis stepped up and made both foul shots, giving RIT a 63-58 lead with :27 seconds to play.

Snyder's layup with :08 seconds to play, cutting RIT's ;ead to 63-60, making it a one-possession game.

#Desmond Scott (Murphy, TX/Plano East)# missed the front end of a one-and-one. Snyddr grabbed the rebound for Vassar, but Smith turned it over securing the win for RIT.

The Tigers shot 42 percent for the game on 23-of-55 shooting. The Tigers made 7-of-15 from three point land and made 10-of-14 from the foul line.

Snyder led Vassar with 19 points.

RIT returns to action on Tuesday, Feb. 12 when the Tigers host Hobart College at 8 pm on the floor of Clark Gym.