ITHACA, N.Y. – The #12 Ithaca men's basketball team (11-0, 3-0 Empire 8) moved to within a win of matching the program's longest winning streak ever, beating the visiting Utica Pioneers 87-64 behind a career-best performance by senior swingman Sean Leahy (West Genesee/Syracuse) and a milestone effort from senior center Jeff Bostic# (Geneva/Rochester).
Bostic scored 14 points to raise his career total to 1,008 -- he's the 19th Bomber to reach 1,000 career points – and added rebounds for his 24th career double-double.
Leahy scored a career-high 25 points, including six three-point baskets. He moved into the program's top 10 for career three-pointers, raising his total to 106. Leahy added 10 rebounds, giving him double-doubles in consecutive games.
The Bombers, one of six undefeated teams in Division III, are off to the program's best start ever; their 11 consecutive wins put them one short of the school record set by the 1963-64 team.
Senior point guard Sean Burton (Notre Dame/Whitesboro) added 17 points and six assists for the Bombers, who led by as many as 27 points. in improving to 51-20 all-time against the Pioneers. Senior forward Brendan Rogers (Liverpool/Liverpool) added 10 points.
Bostic reached the 1,000-point milestone by scoring Ithaca's first second-half basket. He and Burton – who reached the mark last season – are just the second pair of Bomber teammates to have scored 1,000 career points (joining Pat Britton and Ryan Bamford, who achieved the distinction late in the 1999-2000 season).
Ithaca hosts Nazareth Friday at 8 p.m.
