POTSDAM, NY -- Despite 28 points from AJ Horde (Oak Park, MI/University of Detroit Jesuit), the RIT men's basketball team (9-8, 3-5 Liberty League) was defeated 86-65 at Clarkson University (9-8, 4-4 Liberty League) Saturday afternoon. RIT trailed 41-33 at halftime, but were outscored 45-32 in the second half.

RIT shot 32.8 percent from the floor on 22-of-67 shooting. RIT made 11-of-34 from behind the arc, and went 10-of-15 from the foul line. Horde led RIT with 28 points on 9-of-22 shooting, including eight 3-pointers. Justin Schneider (Aurora, NY/Southern Cayuga) tallied eight points, while Robert Aguilera (Webster, NY/Webster Thomas) grabbed eight rebounds.

Derek Hart led Clarkson with 24 points and nine rebounds. Drew Zlogar tallied 18 points and had nine rebounds, while Liam Ellis chipped 11 points and five assists for the Golden Knights who shot 47.9 percent from the floor.

RIT kept the game close in the first half. Trailing 14-6 early, the Tigers rallied back to tie the game at 15-15 on a 3-pointer from Horde. A pair of Horde free throws later in the half tied the score at 19-19. Clarkson extended the lead back to 10 points before RIT could rally to pull within three on a 3-pointer from Troy Pierre-Louis (Providence, RI/Berkshire School) to make it 34-31 Clarkson. Schneider scored with 49 seconds to play in the half to make it 36-33 Clarkson, but the Golden Knights scored the last five points to lead 41-33 at the break.

Clarkson opened the second half on a 12-3 run and never looked back. RIT pulled to within 10 points in the second half, but Clarkson was too much for RIT.

RIT returns to action on Tuesday, Jan. 24 when the Tigers host Hobart College at 8 p.m. on the floor of Clark Gym.