ROCHESTER, NY -- The RIT men's basketball team (4-5) opened the 2018 calendar year with a 69-49 loss at No. 22 University of Rochester (9-2) on Tuesday evening at the Louis Alexander Palestra.

RIT shot 27.6 percent from the floor on 16-of-58 shooting. The Tigers went 6-of-18 from behind the arc, and went 11-of-18 from the foul line. Will Atkinson (Orchard Park, NY/Canisius) led the Tigers with a career-high 15 points on 5-of-8 shooting. Troy Pierre-Louis (Providence, RI/Berkshire School) tallied eight points, while Robert Aguilera (Webster, NY/Webster Thomas) grabbed 11 rebounds.

Jacob Wittig was one of four Yellowjackets to score in double figures, tallying 16 points. Patrick Benja chipped in 12 points off the bench for Rochester, who shot 45.3 percent from the floor.

Rochester led 30-20 at halftime. The Tigers kept the game close before Rochester scored 16 straight points midway through the second half to open up a 49-25 lead. The Tigers were outscored 39-29 in the second half.

RIT returns to action on Friday, Jan. 5 when the Tigers host Liberty League rival Hobart College at 8 p.m. on the floor of Clark Gymnasium.