On Friday, Jan. 7 Levittown resident and Rochester Institute of Technology (RIT) Junior Justin Heisig hit a three-pointer with 27 seconds left in the second half of RIT’s men’s basketball game against Stevens Institute of Technology Ducks.
Erasing a 70-69 deficit after the RIT Tigers squandered a 15-point lead with 2:54 remaining, Tigers won a wild contest, 73-70 over Stevens Tech Ducks.
On the ensuing play for RIT, teammate Marcus Lowe (Anchorage, AK/Service) penetrated the lane and kicked a pass out to Heisig, whose 3-pointer from the left wing was flawless, capping off a career-high 22-point performance.
Heisig was 9-for-15 from the field and drained four 3-pointers. He also added eight boards and two steals. The Tigers went into the break with a 36-29 lead, paced by 15 points from Heisig on 6-of-8 shooting from the floor. RIT drained six first-half 3-pointers.
Heisig is a 2008 graduate of Island Trees High School (ITHS) in Levittown. The Island Trees School District told the Tribune that Heisig was the school’s starting guard, leading scorer and rebounder during his years at ITHS.
“Justin was one of, if not the finest player I have coached here at I.T. [ITHS] for the past 11 years,” said ITHS Boys Varsity Coach Thomas P. Baierlein. “He grew from a freshman competing for time at the JV level, and through his tremendous hard work, dedication, and love for the game, became one of the best players in the county his senior year.”
Heisig is currently a junior, studying electrical engineering in Rochester.
RIT leads the all-time series between the two schools, 6-2. The two teams meet again on Saturday, Feb. 12 at Stevens Tech in Hoboken.
