St. Lawrence University sophomore Willie Zachery scored a team-high 17 points on Friday night, but the RIT men's basketball team was able to hang on for a dramatic 70-68 win in Rochester, NY.

J.P. Reagan led RIT (7-4, 2-1) with 17 points including 12 in the second half, while Kamron Davis had 11 points and seven rebounds for the home team. Zachery chipped in four rebounds and four assists for the Saints (6-5, 1-2), while senior captain Brady Condlin added 14 points and rookie Riley Naclerio had nine points and six boards.

St. Lawrence finished 25-of-48 from the floor, shooting 52% in the game including a 4-for-4 performance in the second half by Leondre Simmon for eight points. However, RIT closed with a sound 38-24 advantage in rebounding including a 15-1 lead in offensive boards.

RIT jumped out to an 18-8 lead, but St. Lawrence chipped away and eventually pulled even at 26-26 off a three by Kyle Kobis with 6:25 left in the opening half. Zachery and Reagan exchanged buckets in the final seconds to bring the score to 36-36 at intermission.

The Saints took their largest lead of the game at 53-47 early in the second half thanks to three pointers by Naclerio, Kyle Edwards and Condlin. RIT would respond with a crucial run, with Matt Gundrum's triple with 3:57 remaining pushing the Tigers lead to 67-60. Zachery would hit a big three for the Saints to get his team back within two, and Kobis' free throws in the final seconds helped the visitors back to within one, 69-68.

Reagan made the second of two free throws with 1.5 seconds left to bring the game to 70-68. Kobis last-second heave from his own end of the floor bounced off the front of the rim, allowing RIT to hold on for the narrow conference win.

St. Lawrence will be in action again tomorrow, Saturday, January 10 at 4pm in Geneva, NY against Hobart College.