ROCHESTER, NY – Clutch free throws from AJ Horde (Oak Park, MI/University of Detroit Jesuit) and Miguel Lopez (Guaynabo, Puerto Rico/St. Francis) sealed the deal for the RIT men's basketball team (2-2) as they won the 31st annual Harold J. Brodie Tournament, rallying to defeat Hamilton (1-1) in the championship game, 79-75 at the Clark Gymnasium on Saturday.
 
The Tigers won despite shooting shot 38.2 percent as a team, and survived shooting just 28 percent in the first half. Hamilton shot nearly 44 percent from the field in the loss. Rebounds were even at 39 apiece.
 
"I still think we can play better, but it was a quality win against a perennial quality team," said RIT men's basketball head coach Bob McVean. "We were certainly challenged and tested during the game, but with fortitude and determination, we eked it out."
 
Horde had perhaps the best game of his young career to date. Named Brodie Tournament Most Valuable Player, Horde finished with a career-high 30 points, on 8-for-16 shooting, adding six rebounds, three assists, and two blocks. Kamron Davis (Syracuse, NY/Nottingham) scored 12 of his 19 points in the second half, leading to the Tigers victory, adding 10 rebounds for his first double-double of the season. He earned All-Tournament Team honors.
 
"AJ Horde (Oak Park, MI/University of Detroit Jesuit) had a dynamic day, but we got production from a lot of different players," said McVean. "With us only having two seniors, its something we can build on this season."
 
Picked as a member of the all-tournament team, Jack Dwyer led the Continentals with 23 points, on 8-for-15 shooting, adding three rebounds and two assists. Jack Donnelly added 11 points and five rebounds, joining Dwyer on the all-tournament squad. Four Hamilton players finished with double digit scoring.
 
Hamilton heated up quickly after starting the game 1-for-6 from the field, erupting for a 14-0 run, pushing the lead to 10, at 18-8. The Tigers then began to chip at the lead. A 3-pointer by Horde ended the RIT scoring drought of 4:49, cutting the lead to seven.
 
After a pair of baskets stretched the Continentals to 11, their largest of the game, the Tigers chipped at the lead again, as a pair of free throws by Mitch Herman (Webster, NY/Webster Schroeder)n and a three by Horde gave the Tigers the lead briefly, at 25-24.
 
Hamilton then tightened up defensively, taking advantage of a couple of RIT turnovers to take back the advantage. With the first half winding down, Hamilton's Wes Wilbur wisely got into position off a missed 3-pointer, tipping in the rebound to end the half, with a 36-31 advantage.
 
RIT came out of the gate strong in the second half, going on an 7-2 run, getting the lead once again at 39-38. From there, Hamilton and RIT exchanged the lead down the stretch in the closing half. Down 63-61 after a Dwyer jumper from midrange, the Tigers took the lead for good with a 15-6 run, as a Lopez made one of two free throws to give RIT its biggest lead of the game, at 76-69 with 1:55 left in regulation.
 
But Hamilton had one more run left in them. Peter Hoffman scored on a layup to bring the deficit to five. After Lopez went 1-for-2 from the line on the next possession, Dwyer got into the paint and hit a floater. On the inbounds pass, Davis was called for a loose ball foul, and free throws by Andrew Groll, brought the lead to two, at 77-75.
 
With under 20 seconds remaining, nursing a two-point lead and Hamilton threatening to tie on the last possession, the Tigers needed a crucial stop, getting it when Donnelly missed jumper from the corner. After a scramble, Horde came up with the rebound, sinking the ensuing free throws for the victory.
 
With the win, RIT has 10 wins over the Continentals in 21 games overall, as this was the first time the two teams played since the 1992-93 season.
 
The Tigers will take a holiday break, resuming action on Dec. 2, as they play in the 50th annual Wendy's College Classic. Tip-off, opponent, and location will be determined at a later date.
 
31st annual Harold J. Brodie All-Tournament team
Casey Williams – Keuka
Zach Blask – D'Youville
Jack Dwyer - Hamilton
Jack Donnelly – Hamilton
Kamron Davis (Syracuse, NY/Nottingham) – RIT
Most Valuable Player - A.J. Horde – RIT