Geneva, N.Y.--Sophomore Jordan Marcus (Solomon Schechter/West Orange, N.J.) tied a 40-year-old program record with 45 points to lead the men's basketball team to a 108-93 win over Hobart in the season-opener for both teams Monday night. Freshman Sean Rossi (Sparta/Sparta, N.J.) picked up a double-double in his first career game with 16 points and 12 assists. He set a new Ithaca freshman record for assists.
Marcus matched the Ithaca record set by Greg Albano on Feb. 15, 1969. Only four players have scored 40 or more points for the Bombers in the team's 79-year history. Marcus' scoring output came on 13 field goals—including five from three-point range—and 14 free throws. His total from the foul line tied him for the third-most in program history. Marcus' previous best point total was 25, set against Nazareth last season.
Rossi's 12 assists were the sixth-most for any player in Bomber history. Ithaca players have tallied 11 or more assists just three times since 1991.
The Bombers trailed with just over 10 minutes to play in the game before a Rossi layup gave Ithaca the lead for good at 76-75. They notched nine straight points to swell their lead to eight points, and never trailed by fewer than six for the remainder of the contest. Marcus scored 13 points amidst the 32-18 run that closed the game.
Ithaca trailed for most of the first half, and was down by as many as 13 to the Statesmen. The Bombers tied the score at 50 with 5:50 to play in the half, with a free throw from Marcus that capped a 15-2 run. Freshman Eli Maravich (Chartiers Valley/Pittsburgh, Pa.) hit a pair of three-pointers to help close the gap. He finished with 10 points on the night.
A Hobart basket reclaimed the lead for the home team before back-to-back three-pointers from Marcus and Rossi gave Ithaca a 36-32 lead with five minutes remaining in the first half. Freshman Andrei Oztemel (Staples/Westport, Conn.) hit a three in the final seconds of the half to give Ithaca a 49-41 advantage entering halftime.
Freshman Chris Young (Greely/Cumberland, Maine) joined Maravich, Oztemel and Rossi as the rookies to score points for the Bombers. He netted nine, and also picked up three rebounds and a block. Junior Phil Barera (Belmont/Belmont, Mass.) led Ithaca with seven rebounds. Marcus and senior Tom Brown (Bayport-Blue Point/Baypoint) each grabbed six boards.
The Bombers scored 118 points against Hobart in 2008. Their 226 points against the Statesmen were the most ever against one team in consecutive meetings.
Ithaca next competes this weekend at Amherst's Ken Wright '52 Invitational. The Bombers open play Friday at 8 p.m. against Endicott.
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