Box Score

ROCHESTER, N.Y. - The RIT (7-14, 3-9 Liberty League) men's basketball team snapped a five-game losing streak by defeating Rensselaer (10-11, 7-6 Liberty League) 81-76 in Liberty League action from Clark Gym on Friday night. RIT trailed by three points with 3:24 to play in the second half, but outscored the Engineers 12-5 over the final 3:45 to pick up their seventh win of the season and snap a five-game losing streak.

Justin Heisig made back-to-back three pointers to pull RIT even and give them the lead late in the ball game. Both threes came off assists from Gabe Nicasio who drove the lane and skipped a pass over to Heisig, who was camped in the corner. He elevated and drained both to give RIT a three-point lead.

An old-fashioned three point play by Brendan Harder gave RIT a seven point lead, and a free throw by Ronnie Canestro made it a seven point RIT advantage.

Renssleaer cut the lead back to four points on a three pointer by Matthew Pooley with 1:26 to play. Pooley's three pointer was one of 54 the Engineers took for the game.

RIT's defense stepped up in the closing seconds, as Canestro and Heisig blocked three pointers by Matt Dixon and Brendan Farley to keep RIT's lead in tact.

Hesig finished with a game-high 25 points. He was 11-of-14 from the floor and grabbed eight rebounds.

Harder finished with 16 points and grabbed 12 rebounds, while Brendan Reinert chipped in a career high 13 points off the bench.

RIT turned the ball over 22 times leading to 29 points for the Enigneers, but dominated points in the pain 56-18.

The Tigers shot 47.8 percent from the floor on 32-of-67 shooting. RIT was 3-of-15 from behind the arc and were 14-of-19 from the foul line.

Rensselaer shot 31 percent from the floor on 26-of-84 shooting. The Engineers made 14 of 54 three pointers and were 10-of-15 from the foul line.

Pooley led RPI with 22 points. Nick Keefe added 11 points, while Jamie Zajac chipped in eight points.