Box Score UTICA, N.Y. – The Ithaca College men's basketball team earned its first Empire 8 victory of the season Saturday evening. The Bombers defeated Utica by a score of 97-90 at the Harold T. Clark Athletic Center, pushing their overall record to 3-7 with a mark of 1-1 in the conference. Utica falls to 4-7 overall, including a record of 0-2 in the Empire 8.
 
Ithaca was 37-of-59 from the floor, shooting 63 percent on the night. The Bombers shot 53.6 percent from beyond the arc, converting 15-of-28 shots from three-point range. Ithaca's 97 points set a season high, and marked the team's highest point output since a 97-82 win over Houghton on Feb. 4, 2014.  
 
Junior Sam Bevan led Ithaca with 20 points and five assists in his seventh start of the season. Bevan hit all seven shots he attempted, including two from beyond the arc. Sophomore Carlin Champion ranked second on the roster with 16 points, marking a personal best.  Senior Max Masucci recorded 14 points on the night, and ranked first on the team with 33 minutes played. Senior Keefe Gitto, sophomore Joe Masino and freshman Marc Chasin all reached double figures, with each recording 10 points in the victory.
 
The Bombers and Pioneers played even basketball in the opening half, as the lead changed on seven occasions in the first eight minutes of play. The contest's fourth and final tie occurred at 11:20 of the first half, before Ithaca took a slight lead at 26-24. Both teams continued to score, but Ithaca was able to edge out the Pioneers thanks to a 5-0 run to end the half. A three-pointer from Chasin with two seconds remaining capped the run, giving Ithaca a 53-45 edge at the break.
 
The Bombers' momentum carried into the second, as Ithaca was able to take a double-digit lead (63-51) over Utica thanks to back-to-back three balls from Masucci and Bevan. The Bombers' lead grew to 18 in the second half, as another three-pointer from Masucci at 9:44 pushed the score to 79-61.
 
Utica chipped away at the lead in the closing minutes, but the Bombers held on to earn the 97-90 road victory.
 
Ithaca returns to Ben Light Gymnasium on Tuesday, Jan. 6 for another Empire 8 contest against St. John Fisher. Tipoff is scheduled for 8 p.m.

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