Score: Ithaca College 80 – Elmira College 64
Records: Ithaca (11-7, 5-4 Empire 8), Elmira (3-15, 1-8 Empire 8),
Location: Speidel Gymnasium – Elmira, NY
 
Elmira, NY -- Gino Leonardi '16 scored a team-high 24 points, but it was not enough, as the Elmira College men's basketball team dropped an 80-64 Empire 8 Conference battle to Ithaca College. Elmira trailed by only five at the half, but Ithaca's 63.3-percent shooting from the field in the second half lifted the Bombers to a double-digit victory.

The opening 20 minutes of action was tightly contested, as neither team led by more than seven points. Elmira relied heavily on its three-point shooting in the opening stanza, as the Soaring Eagles knocked down six treys, three coming from Justin Henderson '16.
 
Although Elmira was feeling it from downtown, the Purple and Gold struggled to keep Ithaca off the boards. The Bombers outrebounded the Soaring Eagles by eight and pulled down 12 rebounds on the offensive glass. Ithaca's 12 offensive boards turned into 11 second-chance points, which helped the Bombers take a 35-30 lead into the halftime break.
 
Elmira cut the Bomber lead to three points in the opening two minutes, but a 14-2 Ithaca run put the Soaring Eagles in a 15-point hole, 54-39. The Ithaca lead peaked as high as 18 points, 66-48, with 6:32 remaining in regulation.
 
Despite trailing by double-digits, Elmira made an 11-2 run to pull within nine points with just over four minutes to play. During the run, Leonardi scored nine of Elmira's 11 points.
 
Unfortunately, EC was unable to keep its momentum going, as Ithaca marched away with a 16-point win. 
 
Turning Point
Tonight's turning point was Ithaca's hot shooting in the second half, as it helped turn a five-point halftime lead into a 16-point win. The Bombers were 12-of-35 (34.3%) from the field in the first half, but were able to turn things around in the second, as Ithaca knocked down 19-of-30 attempts (63.3%). 13 of Ithaca's makes in the second half were scored inside the paint, accounting for 26 points of the team's 45 points.
 
Inside the Box Score

• Elmira was 24-for-61 from the floor (39.3%), while Ithaca went 31-for-65 (47.7%).
• The Bombers were 12-for-16 from the free-throw line (75.0%).
• EC missed just one free-throw attempt tonight on 7-of-8 shooting (87.5%).
• Ithaca controlled the boards, outrebounding Elmira 41-to-33.
• 15 of Ithaca's rebounds came on the offensive glass.
• Ithaca also won the turnover battle, committing just nine to Elmira's 13.
• Leonardi scored a team-high 24 points to go along with six boards and a team-high four assists.
• Henderson was Elmira's only other double-digit scorer, as he finished with 15 points all on three-point buckets.
• Porrett led the Soaring Eagles on the glass with eight rebounds, which tied for the game high.
• Ithaca's Marc Chasin led all scorers with 29 points, while Sam Bevan produced a double-double on 10 points and 10 assists.

 
News and Notes

• Henderson's five three-pointers marked the fourth time this season he has knocked down five or more.
• Henderson's career total for three-point buckets increases to 112, just 16 shy of cracking EC's all-time Top-10 list.
• Leonardi's 24 points is the sixth time this season he has gone for 20 or more.
• Porrett's eight rebounds tie his career best.

 
Up Next
Elmira returns to the hardwood this Saturday, January 30th, when the Soaring Eagles make the trek to Hoboken, NJ, to face the Ducks of Stevens Institute of Technology. The opening tip is scheduled for 1:00 p.m.