Box Score

ITHACA, N.Y. – The Ithaca College men's basketball team (7-3, 3-0 Empire 8) won its fourth straight game defeating visiting St. John Fisher (8-5, 3-1 Empire 8) 48-46 on Saturday at Ben Light Gymnasium.

The Bombers, who trailed by four at the break, dug their way out of a nine-point deficit in the second. Ithaca used a 17-3 run, highlighted by four three-pointers, to secure the lead indefinitely.

Senior Travis Warech posted a Bomber-best 11 points. Senior Eli Maravich and freshman Sam Bevan added eight apiece, a career-high for Bevan. Junior Frank Mitchell pulled down a team-high eight rebounds. Warech added seven and junior Tom Sweeney six as the Bombers outrebounded Fisher, 40-38.

The teams combined to score just 21 points over the first 10 minutes of action and went on to tally 40 in the first frame. Ithaca held a 12-6 gap on a Maravich jumper, but 14 unanswered Cardinal points gave the visitors a 20-12 gap at 3:40. The Bombers recorded six of the final eight points to cut within four as Fisher led 22-18 at the half.

Ithaca outscored the Cardinals 30-24 in the second stint.

The Bombers pulled within two on an Andrei Oztemel three and a Warech layup at the 18-minute mark, but the Cardinals took a 35-26 advantage with a 9-2 streak. Maravich drained back-to-back threes to spark the Bomber offense. Ithaca posted a 43-38 lead at 7:27 and held Fisher to just one field goal and six total points over an 11-minute span.

The Cardinals twice got within three before making it a one-point game with 18 ticks lingering in the game. Bevan was fouled on the inbound play and sent to the free throw line. He hit the front end of his free throws to finalize all scoring, 48-46.

Ithaca scored 15 points off Fisher turnovers. The Cardinals held a 16-13 margin in the category.

The Bombers return to action on Tuesday, Jan. 8 at Utica.