ITHACA, N.Y.--The Bombers (3-2) rallied from an eight point halftime deficit to edge the visiting Cortland Red Dragons 76-75 Tuesday night at Ben Light Gymnasium. Ithaca has now won its last four meetings with Cortland (2-2). Freshman Andrei Oztemel (Staples/Westport, Conn.) was a perfect 5-for-5 off the bench in the win, netting 14 points.

Freshman Sean Rossi (Sparta/Sparta, N.J.) scored the game-winning points on a layup with just over one minute to play in the game. Rossi stole the ball on the ensuing Cortland possession, forcing the Red Dragons to foul to regain control. The visitors missed three potential game-winners in the final 10 seconds if play.

Cortland led for the entire second half before a three-pointer from Oztemel—his third of the half—gave Ithaca a 65-63 lead. The teams exchanged the lead six times before Rossi's game winning basket. Rossi scored five of his career-high 18 points during the final four minutes of play.

Oztemel also set a new career-best in points, tallying 14. Sophomore Jordan Marcus (Solomon Schechter/West Orange, N.J.) and junior Phil Barera (Belmont/Belmont, Mass.) joined the pair in double digits, scoring 15 and 14 points, respectively. Marcus has scored at least 10 points in every game this season.

With a career-best 11 rebounds, Barera notched his second double-double in the last four games for the Bombers.

Cortland led by as many as 11 points in the game, holding a 46-25 lead with just under five minutes to play in the first half. Barera hit three field goals as the half closed to help cut the Red Dragon lead to 44-36 entering the intermission.

Ithaca opens Empire 8 play Friday with an 8 p.m. matchup with Hartwick at Ben Light Gymnasium.

Box Score