Men’s Basketball falls short to RPI in overtime, 78-73

ROCHESTER N.Y. - The RIT men's basketball team fell at home to RPI in overtime, 78-73, Friday.
 
 
HOW IT HAPPENED

• Despite RPI jumping out to a 5-0 lead to start the game, RIT scored 13 unanswered points, with graduate student forward Kenny Wilburn scoring eight of those points in the first five minutes. The Tigers continued to dominate offensively, leading by as much as 18 points with 6:28 in the first half.
• RIT controlled the paint for the entirety of the first half, outrebounding RPI 19-6. With 5:56 left in the first, RPI began to show signs of life, going on a 17-2 run and shortening their deficit to only three. A late 5-0 run by the Tigers allowed them to maintain the lead going into halftime, 41-37.
• The Engineers continued their momentum into the second half, going on a 14-9 run and taking the lead with 9:35 remaining. RIT responded with a 7-2 run to take the lead back shortly after.
• A late 8-0 run from RPI with back-to-back three-pointers put the Engineers ahead by two points with just under five minutes left to play in regulation. With 1:03 left, senior guard Brock Bowen made a driving layup and-1 to put RIT ahead 66-65. RPI responded with a quick layup to take a 67-66 lead with 35 seconds left.
• In the final 30 seconds, graduate student guard Matt Caggiano hit a contested floating jumper to put the Tigers up 68-67. RPI's Avery Eugster drove to the basket with seconds on the clock to draw a foul. At the line, the guard missed one of two free throws, sending the game into overtime.
• RPI controlled the tempo in the extra time, outscoring the Tigers 6-2 while putting RIT at a four-point deficit with two minutes to play. Down the stretch, RIT was unable to mount a comeback, shooting 2-of-8 from the field.

 
GAME NOTES

• Caggiano had a team-high 21 points along with five rebounds and three assists.
• Senior forward Josiah Turner had 19 points on 8-of-11 shooting with five rebounds.
• Senior guard Chase Dickens added eight points, six rebounds, three assists, and three steals.

 
WHAT'S NEXT
RIT is home tomorrow (Feb. 1) as they play host to Hobart at 4:15 PM.