Utica, N.Y. – The 20th-ranked Ithaca men's basketball team (11-3, 4-1 Empire 8) had its nine-game winning streak snapped at Utica (7-5, 1-3 Empire 8) as the Pioneers edged the Bombers, 85-81, Tuesday evening.

Utica, who had lost four consecutive entering the game, led by as many as 11 points in the first frame before carrying its advantage into the second. Ithaca dwindled its deficit to one with nine seconds lingering in the game when a 4-for-9 free throw performance proved costly.

The Bombers placed four in double-figures as junior guard Jordan Marcus (Solomon Schechter/West Orange, N.J.) led the way with 27 points. Senior guard Chris Cruz-Rivas (West Genesee/Syracuse) added 17 for the Blue and Gold, while sophomore forward Andrei Oztemel (Staples/Westport, Conn.) and senior center Phil Barera (Belmont/Belmont, Mass.) chipped in 13 and 12, respectively. Oztemel and Barera each pulled down seven off the glass to lead the Bombers' efforts on the boards, while sophomore guard Sean Rossi (Sparta/Sparta, N.J.) dished out a game-high 13 assists.

The Pioneers opened action in commanding fashion as Utica claimed a 15-8 lead just 5:40 into the game. The Bombers remained within striking distance thanks to three-pointers by Marcus and Oztemel, but the hosts used a 10-2 run to take an 11-point lead at 7:13. Ithaca responded with a trio of layups backed by a Cruz-Rivas trey to make it a one-possession game, but the Pioneers outscored the Bombers 11-6 over the final 4:51 to lead at intermission, 42-35.

Utica opened the second stint by extending the gap to nine on three occasions before the Bombers got hot with 11 back-to-back points. After Ithaca claimed the lead for the first time since the 17:49 mark of the first stanza, the teams exchanged a pair of buckets. A Utica basket then secured its lead for over four minutes, but not to be outdone the Bombers responded to claim its final advantage at the five-minute mark when Marcus hit one of his game-high seven three-pointers.

Utica took a five-point lead over turnover-ridden Ithaca with 50 seconds remaining in the game to ultimately secure its first conference victory of the season. A Marcus three-pointer brought the game to 82-80 with 44 seconds to play, but a pair of missed Ithaca foul shots down the stretch helped the Pioneers seal the victory.

Ithaca will take a week hiatus before hosting Elmira on Jan. 18 at 8 p.m.

Box Score