Men's Basketball | 1/22/2010 9:45:53 PM

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ROCHESTER, NY – Visiting Hartwick (7-9, 4-4 Empire 8) shot 72 percent (18-for-25) from the field in the second half and ended the game on a 21-7 run, handing the RIT men's basketball team (4-10, 0-5 Empire 8) a 70-63 loss in front of a near capacity crowd at Clark Gym on Friday evening.

With the game tied at 58 with 4:13 left, Hartwick's Martin McCann drained a 3-pointer to make the score 61-58. Adam Haines (West Sand Lake, NY/Averill Park) scored a lay-up to cut the Hawks lead to 61-60. Mark Blazek hit 3-pointers on consecutive possessions sandwiched around a 3-pointer by RIT's Anthony Terry (Rochester, NY/Bishop Kearney) to make the score 67-63 Hawks with 1:11 left. RIT would not score the rest of the way.

Chris Ryder led all scorers with 21 points on 9-of-12 shooting from the floor. Kyle Phillips added 17 points and nine boards. Blazek finished with 20 points and six assists.

Terry led the Tigers with 16 points and five assists. Brendan Harder (Oneonta, NY/Oneonta) recorded a double-double, scoring 12 points and adding 12 boards. Nate Korinchak (Strongsville, OH/Strongsville) scored 10 points, and added five rebounds. Scott Young (Almond, NY/Hornell) and Adam Haines (West Sand Lake, NY/Averill Park) scored eight points apiece. Haines also added six boards.

RIT out-rebounded Hartwick, 35-28. The two teams combined for just 19 turnovers and 24 fouls. The Tigers shot 42 percent (27-for-64) from the field in the game, while Hartwick shot 55 percent (28-for-51), buoyed by the hot-shooting second half.

RIT led 27-26 after the first half, which at times, was fast-paced. Neither team shot well in the first half, as RIT was at 40 percent, and Hartwick at 38.5 percent. The Tigers did hold a 22-12 edge on the boards. The Tigers led by as many as eight, but Hartwick whittled the lead down, and took its first lead of the game, 24-23 on a free throw by Phillips. Marcus Lowe (Anchorage, AK/Service) hit a baseline jumper on the next possession gave RIT its lead back.

The all-time series between the two schools is even at 29-29. Hartwick has now won six of the last seven meetings between the two schools dating back to the 2006-07 season.

Tonight was the third annual Destler Orange Hair Challenge. Students were challenged to fill Clark Gym. If the gym was completely full, RIT President Dr. Bill Destler would dye his hair orange at halftime. The gym nearly full, Dr. Destler dyed orange streaks in his hair.

RIT is right back in action on Saturday, with a home game against E8 foe Elmira. The contest begins at 2 p.m.