POTSDAM, NY -- The RIT men's basketball team (10-6, 4-3 Liberty League) had its three-game winning streak snapped on Friday evening with a 77-59 loss at Clarkson University (9-7, 3-4 Liberty League). Jameel Balenton (Syracuse, NY/Christian Brothers) and Miguel Lopez (Guaynabo, Puerto Rico/St. Francis) paced the Tigers with 10 points apiece.

RIT struggled all evening, turning the ball over 23 times, leading to 29 Clarkson points. RIT shot 44.4 percent from the floor on 24-of-54 shooting. The Tigers went 6-of-17 from behind the arc and were 5-of-11 from the foul line. Gabe Nicasio (Essex Junction, VT/Essex) scored eight points and Kamron Davis (Syracuse, NY/Nottingham) and Brendan Reinert (Wheatfield, NY/Starpoint) each scored six. Sheldon Clay (Detroit, MI/University of Detroit Jesuit) had a team-best seven boards.

The Tigers got behind in the first half, trailing 43-28 at the break. RIT shot 44.0 percent from the floor in the first half on 11-of-25 shooting. The Tigers were 4-of-11 from behind the arc, and were 2-of-6 from the foul line. Nicasio led the Tigers with eight points, while Davis chipped in four points and five rebounds.

RIT fought back in the second half, cutting the Golden Knights lead to 61-51 on a jumper by Balenton with 7:20 to play. That would be as close as the Tigers would get, as Clarkson closed out the game outscoring RIT 16-8 over the final 7:20.

Marques Charlton led Clarkson with 28 points and eight rebounds. John Coleman scored 15 and Dylan Hodownes had 12 for the Golden Knights who shot 46.7 percent from the floor on 28-of-60 shooting. Charlton and Coleman would each score their 1,000th career points in the victory for the Golden Knights.

RIT returns to action on Saturday, February 1 at St. Lawrence University. Tip-off in Canton, N.Y. is at 4 p.m.