ROCHESTER, NY – The RIT (12-7, 6-4 Liberty League) men's basketball team led 47-28 at the half and held off a late run to beat Vassar College (15-4, 7-3 Liberty League) 88-78 in a critical Liberty League matchup from Clark Gym Friday evening. The 88 points scored by RIT was the most points Vassar has allowed this season, as the Brewers came into tonight as the top defensive team in the Liberty League.

Jameel Balenton (Syracuse, NY/Christian Brothers) led a balanced scoring RIT scoring attack with 19 points. JP Reagan (Cortland, NY/Cortland) added 17 points, while Miguel Lopez (Guaynabo, Puerto Rico/St. Francis) added 16 points for the Tigers who shot 49.2 percent from the floor.

Brendan Reinert (Wheatfield, NY/Starpoint) scored nine points off the bench, while Sheldon Clay (Detroit, MI/University of Detroit Jesuit) and Gabe Nicasio (Essex Junction, VT/Essex) each scored seven points. In all, 10 different Tigers scored a point.

RIT was hot from the floor in the first half, shooting 58.8 percent on 20-of-34 shooting. The Tigers made 3-of-8 from behind the arc and were 4-of-4 from the foul line, leading by as many as 21 points in the first half. Lopez scored 15 of his 16 points in the first half to pace the Tigers who led 47-28 at the break.

The Tigers took a 21-point lead at the 11:44 mark of the second half on a 3-pointer by Reagan off an assist from Gabe Nicasio (Essex Junction, VT/Essex).

RIT maintained a double-digit lead late in the second half, taking a 76-62 lead with 5:42 to play in regulation on a 3-pointer from Balenton.

Vassar would not go away, rallying with a 13-4 run, cutting RIT's lead to 80-75 on a three pointer by Johnny Mrlik with 2:07 to play.

Balenton, Reagan and Sheldon Clay (Detroit, MI/University of Detroit Jesuit) all made clutch their free throws down the stretch to for RIT as they held on for the 10-point win.

Mrlik led Vassar with 22 points and five rebounds. Alex Snyder scored 16 point and grabbed eight rebounds, while Erikson Wasyl scored 13 points and had five assists for Vassar who shot 50.0 percent from the floor.

RIT returns to action on Saturday, February 8 when the Tigers host Bard College at 4 p.m. on the floor of Clark Gym.