ITHACA, N.Y.—The eighth-ranked Bombers (21-1, 12-1 Empire 8) never trailed en route to a 81-68 win over Stevens Institute of Technology (12-8, 5-6 Empire 8) Tuesday night. The Bombers' win was their ninth straight, their second streak of at least as many games this season. The team was led in scoring by sophomore Chris Cruz (West Genesee/Camillus), who tallied 23 points. With the win and Rochester Institute of Technology's loss Ithaca moved into a tie for first-place in the Empire 8.

Cruz hit four three-pointers in the game, and grabbed a career-high eight rebounds. Senior Sean Burton (Notre Dame/Yorkville) scored 20 points and tallied five assists. Fellow senior Brendan Rogers (Liverpool/Liverpool) contributed a career-high nine assists.

As a team, Ithaca now has 212 three-pointers this, a new program record.

The Bombers took the lead early, running the score to 25-9 within the first eight minutes of play. Ithaca got three-pointers six three-pointers in the run, three from Burton. Rogers made a three of his own to extend the lead to a game-high 20 points with six minutes to play in the half.

Stevens closed the first half on a 19-9 run to cut the Ithaca lead to 47-37 at the half.

The score did not get any closer in the second half, however, with Ithaca again pushing the lead to 20 points at 60-40. Cruz scored eight points in the second half's first five minutes to spark the 13-3 Bomber run.

Another late Duck rally cut the advantage to 11 points at 74-63 with three minutes left in the game, but again the Bombers stretched their lead, allowing just five more Stevens points in the contest.

The Bombers continue their homestand Saturday with a 4 p.m. matchup with St. John Fisher.

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