ROCHESTER, NY -- The RIT men's basketball team lost to Clarkson University (13-9, 7-6 Liberty League) 83-71 on Senior Day at Clark Gym Saturday afternoon. Brendan Reinert (Wheatfield, NY/Starpoint) was awarded the 2014 Steven King Award which is awarded to a member of the RIT men's basketball team who exemplifies the qualities of Steven King, a former RIT basketball player, passed away in 1982 as a result of a summer employment accident. King exhibited spirit, enthusiasm, sportsmanship and leadership. During his time at RIT.

Jameel Balenton (Syracuse, NY/Christian Brothers) led RIT with 18 points. Reinert and Gabe Nicasio (Essex Junction, VT/Essex) each scored 11 points, and Miguel Lopez (Guaynabo, Puerto Rico/St. Francis) and JP Reagan (Cortland, NY/Cortland) each scored 10 points for the Tigers who fall to fourth place in the Liberty League standings with an 8-6 record.

The Tigers led early on, taking a 17-11 lead with 14:30 to play in the first half on a three pointer from Balenton.

A 7-0 burst by Clarkson gave the Golden Knights an 18-17 lead with 9:22 to play on a jumper by John Coleman. The Golden Knights extended their lead to 10 points on another bucket by Coleman with 5:04 to play in the first.

Trailing 35-27 with :55 seconds to play in the half, Balenton scored RIT's final five points, including a three pointer at the buzzer, cutting Clarkson's lead to 35-32 at the half.

RIT shot 41.4 percent from the floor in the first half on 12-of-29 shooting. The Tigers were 3-of-8 from behind the arc, and were 5-of-7 from the foul line. Balenton led RIT with eight first-half points, while Reinert scored seven points.

Clarkson opened the second half with a 16-4 run, taking a 51-36 lead on a three pointer by Marques Coleman. The Golden Knights led by as many as 15 points on three separate occasions in the second half.

RIT got as close as 10 points in the second half, but could never get any closer as Clarkson held on for the 12-point win.

Clarkson's Coleman led all scorers with 29 points. Charlton scored 22 points, while Charles McAllister scored 14 points for the Golden Knights. Clarkson shot 50.0 percent from the floor on 31-of-62 shooting, including 8-of-26 from behind the arc.

RIT now sits at fourth overall in the Liberty League standings, half a game ahead of Clarkson, with two games remaining on their regular season schedule. On Friday, February 21 the Tigers will look to take a step toward their potential playoff destiny when they face Rensselaer at 8 p.m. in Troy, N.Y.