Box Score

Elmira, N.Y. – The Ithaca men's basketball team (10-13, 7-5 Empire 8) put five in double figures, yet suffered a 70-62 setback to host Elmira (1-22, 1-11 Empire 8) on Friday night.

In a game that was tied on eight occasions, the Soaring Eagles took a 32-30 lead at the half before maintaining their advantage through the majority of the second. The Bombers held the lead just once in the second frame as Elmira powered to victory.

Sophomore Frank Mitchell netted a team-best 19 points, while classmate Tom Sweeney and junior Andrei Oztemel added 11 apiece. Senior Jordan Marcus drained 10, as did junior Sean Rossi, to go along with his eight assists.

The Soaring Eagles jumped out to a 7-2 lead in the first, but the Bombers answered with a 15-4 streak to lead, 17-11, at 12:52. Ithaca maintained an edge until Elmira posted seven unanswered points. The advantage flip-flopped, before the Soaring Eagles took a 32-30 lead into the locker room at intermission. 

Elmira claimed seven of the first 11 points scored in the second to secure its largest lead of the game at the 16-minute mark. The Bombers thrice came-from-behind to tie up the game, before a Mitchell drive resulted in a 54-53 Ithaca gap. Elmira scored eight straight to claim the lead indefinitely. The Bombers cut within two, but were forced to send the Soaring Eagles to the charity stripe down the stretch. Elmira iced the win with a 6-for-6 showing at the line. 

The Bombers, struggled on the boards, as Elmira held a 31-26 rebounding advantage. The host squad shot 49.0 percent from the floor to Ithaca's 41.8 percent showing.

The Bombers will travel to Alfred for a 4 p.m. contest on Saturday.