RIT 90, Worcester State 88 OT
Rochester, NY --- Despite 31 points from senior Maurice Horton (Detroit, MI), Worcester State was downed 90-88 in overtime this afternoon by RIT in the consolation game of the Harold Brodie Tournament. Horton's total was a game-high as junior Dave Douillette (Bridgewater, MA) also tallied 21 points and sophomore Jamaal Atkins (Webster, MA) grabbed 13 boards for WSC.
Freshman Tim Henault (Lunenburg, MA) also finished 10 points while second-year Raheem Lewis (Northbridge, MA) handed out seven assists. Horton would do most of his damage from the charity stripe as he went 12-for-18 from the line while he and Atkins combined for eight of WSC's 20 assists.
With the host Tigers (3-5) ahead 36-28 with 7:01 left in the stanza, RIT outscored the Lancers 14-8 over the course of the rest of the period to take a 50-36 halftime lead.
Worcester State (3-5) went on a 12-3 spurt over the opening three minutes to trail by seven (53-46) and they got to within two points on another 9-4 run with 13:36 on the clock (57-55). The Tigers built the lead back up to eight with six unanswered points before WSC made a 10-2 push to knot the score 65-65 with 7:48 remaining.
The Lancers built up the lead by as many as six three times over the next four minutes. Leading 77-71 with 2:31 left after a Ryan Testagrossa (Athol, MA), the Blue and Gold didn't box out on RITs next possession as they attempted five field goal tries in a 21 second span and got to the free-throw line after a Douillette foul in the paint.
Branden Harder (Oneonta, NY) drained both of his tries to get the lead to four (77-73) and the Lancers would committ three consecutive turnovers to let RIT get back into the game and tie the score. Anthony Terry (Rochester, NY) knotted things up with 21 seconds left to send things into the extra session.
Overtime would see five lead changes over the first 2 1/2 minutes before RIT's Scott Young (Almond, NY) gave the Tigers the edge for good on a trey. RIT would go up four twice over the next two minutes before WSC trimmed the lead to one on a three-pointer by Henault (89-88).
With 56 seconds left, RIT had the ball and ran a play, but Marcus Lowe (Anchorage, AK) was fouled and he canned one of his two attempts to bring the lead back up to 90-88. The Lancers then got possession and Horton was sent to the charity stripe with a chance to knot the score. Horton would miss both attempts and RIT would walk away with the victory for the final score.
After getting outscored in the opening stanza, Worcester State actually came up with the 41-27 advantage in the second period. WSC held leading margins in rebounds (43-40) and points in the paint (26-24) while the Tigers led in points off turnovers (19-4) and second chance points (16-14). RIT turned the ball over just six times for the entire game.
WSC connected for 57 percent for the entire game which included going 14-for-21 from the field in the second stanza (66%) while RIT shot 47 percent in the opening half and the visitors were held to 33 percent for the rest of the game (14-for-42).
Horton was named to the All-Tournament team after he averaged 25 points, 7 boards and 5.5 assists and two blocks in the pair of setbacks this weekend.
The Lancers will take a break and play their next game at the Purple and Gold Tournament at Williams. WSC will face off against Colby-Sawyer in the opening round on January 3.