Coleman Hits For 28 In Knights Victory over RIT

Senior Jerry Coleman breaks in for an open lay up against RIT on Friday. - Photo by Lauren Magin

Potsdam, NY – Senior Jerry Coleman (Potsdam, NY) hit an easy lay up in the final minute to top his previous career-high, scoring 28 points, as the Clarkson University Men’s Basketball team held on for an 83-71 victory over RIT Friday evening at Alumni Gymnasium.

The Golden Knights improved to 14-5 overall and 7-3 in conference games while the Tigers dropped to 6-13 overall and 2-8 in the Liberty League. Clarkson will host Liberty League leader Hobart College on Saturday, while RIT travels to face St. Lawrence.

Clarkson came out pouring in points at the very start of the game and led throughout, jumping out to an 18-2 lead after just six minutes. Despite a quick gasp from the Tigers to stop the run, Clarkson was up by 20 points at the 10:57 mark and saw the lead shrink below that only once before it was extended to 30 late in the half. Clarkson would push the advantage to as many as 35 points following a 3-pointer from Jerry Coleman from outside the elbow, but saw the difference fall to 32 at intermission.

For as hot as Clarkson was in the first half (58.3%), RIT was at the other end of the spectrum, shooting only 29.6 percent (8-for-27). Also aiding the Knights first-half domination was a 23-14 edge in rebounds while Clarkson committed only four turnovers.

Coleman was 8-for-10 from the floor for 21 points, and Felix Llanos (Queens, NY) only trailed that impressive figure by four points with 17. John Coleman (Potsdam, NY) had nine points, six rebounds, and four assists in the first half, while Marques Charlton (Deer Park, NY) had six assists among Clarkson’s 17 first-half helpers.

For as dominant as Clarkson was in the first half, RIT flipped the game on the Knights very quickly. The Tigers chipped the lead down to as few as seven points, as Clarkson struggled from the field and the Tigers established an inside-outside game. RIT also limited the Knights’ second chances by getting virtually every rebound on the Clarkson end, and continuing their own possessions with numerous offensive boards.

The Knights started the second half with a 3-pointer, but the lead would shrink very quickly, as the Tigers were within 16 points seven minutes into the second half, and though Clarkson held a 19-point advantage at the 8:53 mark, RIT had reduced the deficit to single digits just three minutes later. Leading by only seven points, Nate Uline (Gansevoort, NY) made a few big plays down the stretch to help the Knights hold on. He tipped a missed lay up in, and then followed at the other end with big rebounds and good defense. On the other end, Clarkson began to pick up their play and started making outside shots again, holding on for a 12-point win.

Jerry Coleman finished with 28 points on 11-for-18 shooting and Llanos added in 20 points. John Coleman came up with 13 points, nine rebounds, and seven assists, while Uline produced 10 boards. Charlton also had eight points and eight assists.

For RIT, Brendan Harder finished one rebound shy of a double-double with 16 points and nine rebounds, but it was Gabe Nicasio who led the Tigers in scoring, coming off the bench for 22 points. Desmond Scott and Justin Heisig also chipped in 10 points each.

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