ROCHESTER, NY – The RIT men's basketball team (10-9, 6-4 Liberty League) was defeated by Skidmore College (12-7, 7-4 Liberty League) 77-71 in Liberty League action from Clark Gym on Saturday. The Tigers honored veterans and wounded warriors this afternoon who protect our freedoms.
 
"I thought we played with a lot of effort and heart today," said RIT head coach Bob McVean. "We just made a few too many mistakes down the stretch. We just have to clean up those areas this week in practice."
 
RIT shot 38.9 percent from the floor on 19-of-49 shooting. The Tigers went 7-of-26 from 3-point land, and went 26-of-34 from the foul line. AJ Horde (Oak Park, MI/University of Detroit Jesuit) led RIT with 20 points, four rebounds and two steals. Kamron Davis (Syracuse, NY/Nottingham) added 12 points and eight rebounds, while Miguel Lopez (Guaynabo, Puerto Rico/St. Francis) chipped in 11 points off the bench for RIT.
 
Edvinas Rupkus led Skidmore with 20 points, while Erik Sanders shipped in 17 points. Tyler Victoria added 15 points off the bench for the Thoroughbreds who shot 41.3 percent from the floor.

RIT led early, taking a three-point lead inside the first four minutes of the game on a pair of free throws by Davis. Skidmore took its first lead at the 13:57 mark of the first half on a three from Rupkus.

A Miguel Lopez (Guaynabo, Puerto Rico/St. Francis) basket at the 9:39 mark of the first half gave the Tigers a 19-16 lead. Skidmore responded and took a 33-28 lead with 53 seconds to play in the half, giving the Thoroughbreds its largest lead of the half. Horde drained a pair of free throws with eight seconds to play in the half making it a 33-30 Skidmore lead at the break.

RIT shot 40.0 percent from the floor in the first half on 8-of-20 shooting. Horde led the Tigers with 10 first-half points, while Lopez chipped in six points off the bench.

Skidmore opened up a 42-35 lead early in the second half on a dunk by Sanders off an assist from Chase Ta. A quick 5-0 burst by the Tigers tied the score at 42-42 on a pair of Horde free throws. After a Jack Byrne three gave the Thoroughbreds a 43-45 lead, Horde drained a deep three on the Tigers next possession giving RIT a 46-45 lead.

Skidmore would answer right back, taking a 52-46 lead with 12:28 to play in the second half on a layup by Marcus Jackson. Another 7-0 spurt by the Tigers gave RIT a 53-52 lead on a pair of Lopez free throws. Wyatt Smith (Rochester, NY/Irondequoit) gave RIT a 58-54 lead with 8:16 to play in his jumper.

Trailing 65-64 with 5:05 to play, Skidmore out scored RIT 13-6 over the final five minutes to hang on for the six-point win.

RIT returns to action on Friday, Feb. 5 when the Tigers face Bard College at 8 p.m. in Annondale-on-Hudson, N.Y.