News Release

NORTH CHILI, N.Y. — RIT outscored Nazareth 13-7 over the last five minutes Friday as the Tigers defeated Nazareth in a JPMorgan Chase Tournament consolation game in men's basketball, 82-76.

Nazareth, now 5-7 overall, plays at home Saturday in the tournament's seventh place game at 11 a.m. RIT, now 6-6 overall, will play in the fifth-place game at Nazareth at 1 p.m.

With the score tied 69-69 following a basket by Nazareth's Tyler Smith with 5:21 left, RIT scored the next six points -- on baskets by Mark Carson, Kenny Gethers and Rick Whitwood -- to take a 75-69 lead and the Tigers never trailed again.

Another basket by Smith was followed by a jumper by Corey McAdam and a free throw by Rayvon Higdon to bring Nazareth back within one, 75-74, with 2:21 to play, but a jumper by Whitwood was followed by a pair of free throws from Rob Hampton to enable RIT to pull away again.

The game was close throughout and featured 13 ties and 12 lead changes. The Golden Flyers were ahead for most of the first half as Joe Canori scored nine of his team-high 17 points, but RIT took the lead before halftime as Hampton made two free throws with :50 left and Gethers hit a foul shot with :01 left.

Canori's points came on 5 for 12 shooting with three three-pointers. Smith finished with 14 points and McAdam had 13 points and nine assists. Sophomore Jeff DeHimer scored 11 points and freshman Rayvon Higdon scored 10.

Senior Tim Bacon scored 18 for RIT, Gethers scored 15 and Hampton and Barrett Zeinfeld each scored 14. RIT benefitted from a 39-31 rebounding edge with 16 rebounds on the offensive end to just four for the Golden Flyers.

Newspaper Box Score
RIT vs Nazareth
01/12/07 1:30 p.m. at Roberts Wesleyan, Rochester, N.Y.
At Roberts Wesleyan, Rochester, N.Y.
RIT 82, NAZARETH 76
RIT (6-6)
Tim Bacon 8-10 2-4 18; Kenny Gethers 4-12 7-9 15; Rob Hampton 4-10 6-8 14;
Barrett Zeinfeld 5-10 1-1 14; Mark Carson 3-6 0-1 6; Rick Whitwood 2-5 1-2
5; Phil Leslie 1-3 2-2 4; Randy Muldrow 1-3 2-2 4; Scott Young 1-3 0-0 2;
Colin Roy 0-2 0-2 0; Andrew Hempfling 0-0 0-0 0; Jim Torto 0-1 0-1 0. Totals
29-65 21-32 82.
NAZARETH (5-7)
Joe Canori 5-12 4-4 17; Tyler Smith 7-9 0-0 14; Corey McAdam 4-10 5-6 13;
Jeff DeHimer 4-8 3-4 11; Rayvon Higdon 4-8 2-6 10; Leon Hill 3-5 0-0 6; Nick
Bozzelli 0-0 3-4 3; Chris Barrett 0-0 2-2 2. Totals 27-52 19-26 76.
RIT...........................   38   44  -   82
Nazareth......................   36   40  -   76
3-point goals-RIT 3-15 (Barrett Zeinfeld 3-8; Rob Hampton 0-1; Rick Whitwood
0-2; Randy Muldrow 0-2; Scott Young 0-2), Nazareth 3-14 (Joe Canori 3-8;
Corey McAdam 0-3; Rayvon Higdon 0-3). Fouled out--RIT-None, Nazareth-None.
Rebounds-RIT 39 (Mark Carson 11), Nazareth 31 (Jeff DeHimer 6; Leon Hill 6).
Assists-RIT 18 (Colin Roy 9), Nazareth 17 (Corey McAdam 9). Total fouls-RIT
23, Nazareth 23. A-104
RIT plays Saturday in 5th place game at Nazareth at 1 p.m.
Nazareth plays Saturday in 7th place game at Nazareth at 11 a.m.