Box Score

ITHACA, N.Y. – The Ithaca men's basketball team (1-5) fell on a basket by Cortland (3-1) with 4.1 seconds remaining in a 68-67 Red Dragon victory Tuesday night at Ben Light Gymnasium. Ithaca rallied from a five-point deficit in the game's final four minutes to take the lead, before Cortland scored the deciding basket. It was Ithaca's home opener, and the Bombers return to action at Ben Light Gymnasium at 8 p.m. Friday against St. Lawrence.

Sophomore forward Frank Mitchell (Hillsborough/Hillsborough, N.J.) led Ithaca with 24 points on 10-of-15 shooting from the floor. Senior guard Jordan Marcus (Solomon Schechter/West Orange, N.J.) added 17 points, with 12 of those coming on four 3-pointers. Junior guard Sean Rossi (Sparta/Lake Hopatcong, N.J.) added 12 points and four assists.

Junior center Sinjin Wightman (New Paltz/New Paltz) led Ithaca with a career-high 11 rebounds, and Mitchell added 10 boards.

Ithaca held a 50-49 lead with 10:22 remaining in the second half before Cortland answered with an 11-4 run to build a six-point lead. The Bombers answered with an 11-4 run of their own to regain a one-point lead, capped by a successful 3-point basket from Marcus, who was fouled on the shot and converted the free throw to give the Bombers a 65-64 lead. Ithaca added a layup from Mitchell with 2:16 to play, but that was the last basket of the night for the Bombers.

It was an evenly-played game throughout, as neither team held a lead greater than 10 points. There were six ties and nine lead changes.