Box Score

ITHACA, N.Y. – The Ithaca College men's basketball team (3-2, 1-0 Empire 8) outscored visiting Elmira (0-6, 0-1 Empire 8), 40-24, in the second stint to claim a 65-52 victory in the Empire 8 opener for both teams Tuesday night at Ben Light Gymnasium.

After trailing 28-25 at intermission, the Bombers used a 16-4 run to open the second frame and claim the lead indefinitely. The Bombers shot 48 percent from the floor, highlighted by a 53.8 percent conversion rate in the second half. Elmira shot 37.5 percent for the game.

Three Bombers recorded double-digit performances with a game-high 15 points coming from the hands of Tom Sweeney. Junior Frank Mitchell posted 13 points and senior Sean Rossi 12. Rossi added a game-high seven assists and senior Jordan Healey swiped a contest-best three steals. Senior Eli Maravich pulled down six boards for the Bombers, while two others added five and three had four.

Elmira opened the game with back-to-back buckets before Ithaca drained nine straight. The Soaring Eagles answered with a 14 of the next 16 points for an 18-11 edge at 10:10 and the lead for the remainder of the first. Trailing 28-21 at 2:46, Ithaca twice drove the lane to pull within 28-25 at the break.

The Bombers dominated the second from the whistle. Rossi dribbled down court and drove left on the inbound play to set the pace for Ithaca. The Bombers took a 14-point lead at the 13-minute mark after Maravich made a steal and sunk a pair of free throws on the resulting play.

The Soaring Eagles pulled within eight at 8:03, but that's as close as the visiting squad would get. A Sweeney jumper at 3:45 secured Ithaca's largest lead of the game, 63-48. The Bombers went on to finalize all scoring, 65-52.

Ithaca owns a 38-19 advantage in the series history with Elmira, with the Bombers winning 21 of the last 22 contests.

Ithaca will return to the hardwood on Saturday, Dec. 8 hosting Oswego in non-conference action.