Ithaca, NY – The Elmira College Men's Basketball team fought down to the wire, but ultimately fell, 75-70, to host Ithaca College Friday evening. The loss drops the Soaring Eagles to 0-15 overall and 0-5 in Empire 8 play, while the win improves the Bombers to 7-9 overall and 4-1 in conference competition.
Ithaca led by as many as eight points with 9:36 remaining in the opening half. The EC defense held the Bombers scoreless for more than four minutes as Elmira went on a 9-0 run to take a 24-23 lead after a Kurt Dutcher '14 (Gaylord, MI -- Gaylord) basket with 5:28 remaining in the opening half. The teams played back-and-forth the remainder of the period, with Ithaca carrying a 35-33 lead into intermission.
Elmira used an 8-0 run out of halftime sparked by two Neil Randolph '15 (Wicklow, Ireland -- Presentation) trifectas to take a 41-35 advantage. Ithaca responded with five straight points before Randolph nailed another three. The Bombers then went on an 8-1 run to take back a 48-45 advantage with 11 minutes remaining. Josh Keys '14 (Bel Air, MD -- CM Wright) responded with a three to tie it, as the game sat at 48 all halfway through the second half.
Over the next five minutes Ithaca went on a 15-5 run to take a 10 point lead. The run was sparked by eight points from Marcus Jordan, including two strikes from long distance. Although the Bombers continued to lead down the stretch EC stayed tough bringing the deficit to six with 1:20 remaining after a Dan O'Brien '14 (Oneonta, NY -- Oneonta) basket. Ithaca made roughly half of its free throws down the stretch and Elmira continued to fight. After an O'Brien trey with 30 seconds left Elmira trailed by just three. Connor Rogers nailed both his free throws to extend the Ithaca lead to five, but once again Chris Cassidy '14 (Colts Neck, NJ -- Colts Neck) answered with another bucket, as EC sent the Bombers back to the free throw line. This time Andrei Oztemel hit both of his free throws with 15 seconds remaining, extending the lead back to two possessions, and ultimately sealing the Ithaca win, 75-70.
Cassidy led Elmira with 19 points and nine rebounds, while Keys finished with 13 points, eight rebounds, and five assists. Randolph tallied 11 points off the bench, including three triples in the second half. Oztemel led Ithaca with a game-high 20 points, including five three-pointers, while Frank Mitchell added 12 points and eight boards, and Jordan notched eight straight points during an important stretch that helped Ithaca create separation.
Elmira shot 48 percent from the field in the game, while the Bombers nailed 57 percent of their shots from the field and just over half of its attempts from downtown. EC held a 36-25 advantage on the glass, while both teams turned the ball over 12 times.
The Elmira College Men's Basketball team returns to action tomorrow when they travel to Utica College for a 4:00 p.m. tip.
Ithaca 75 Elmira 70
Box Score
