HAMILTON, NY - The SUNYIT men's basketball team lost on the road to Clark University Friday night, 86-70. The game was the first of the two match-ups for the Wildcats at the Hamilton Tip-Off Tournament, hosted by Hamilton College. In defeat, the Wildcats fall to 0-1 while the Clark Cougars improve with a 1-1 record. 

Junior forward Derek Rowe (Mexico, NY/Mexico Academy) led the team with 19 points, while teammate junior guard Yhashin White (Brooklyn, NY/Canarsie) knocked in 18 points on three of four, shooting behind the arc.  Freshman forward T'Andre Richardson (Utica, NY/Utica-Proctor) rounded out the scoring for the Wildcats with 12 points.  

Senior forward D.J. Bailey (Palmer, Mass/Belmont) led the Cougars with 15 points on seven of nine shooting from the floor while senior forward Mitch Renshaw (Rutland, MA/Wachusett Regional) chipped in 13 points to contribute to the team-high eight rebounds.  Senior forward Brian Vayda (Sturbridge, MA/Tantasqua Regional) walked away with 12 points and seven rebounds while junior guard Tucker Esborn (Branford, CT/Avon Old Farms) put away 12 points.

Clark shot better than 55 percent from the floor in the first half, with SUNYIT only coming up with a 30.3 shooting percentage.  The Cougars led the Wildcats 45-23 going into the locker room.  Though SUNYIT found their shooting groove in the second half, the closest they got to Clark was the final 16-point margin.

The Wildcats will now play in the consolation game of the Hamilton Tip-Off Tournament today against Bridgewater State.  Tip-off is scheduled for 2 p.m.