Live Stats | Live Video | Tournament Page

ROCHESTER, N.Y. – The Ithaca College men's basketball team will play the top-seeded St. John Fisher Cardinals in the opening game of the Empire 8 Tournament on Friday, Feb. 27 at 6 p.m. The late game features the second-seeded Alfred Saxons and the third-seeded Hartwick Hawks. The conference championship will be on Saturday, Feb. 28 at 4 p.m.

Scouting The Bombers - Rosters | Schedule | Stats
The Bombers finished the year with an overall record of 12-13, including a mark of 9-7 in the Empire 8. Senior Keefe Gitto leads the Bombers offensively, averaging 15.7 points-per-game. Gitto also paces the Bombers with 9.3 rebounds-per-contest. He has recorded 11 double-doubles this season, marking another team high. Three other Bombers are averaging double-digit points this season, including freshman Marc Chasin (14.8), junior Sam Bevan (10.6) and senior Max Masucci (10.4). As a team, Ithaca leads the Empire 8 in scoring, averaging 78.8 points-per-game. The Bombers also lead the conference with 239 made three pointers this season.
 
Scouting The Cardinals - Rosters | Schedule | Stats
The host Cardinals completed the season with a record of 21-4 overall and 14-2 in the Empire 8. The Cardinals lead the Empire 8 in scoring defense (61.2 points per game), while averaging 77.4 points per game in scoring offense, good for second in the conference. Three players average double-digit scoring, including sophomore Keegan Ryan (16.2), senior Optimystik Kinard (10.2) and junior Tyler Hart (10.0). Junior guard Chaz Lott leads the Empire 8 in assists with 5.7 per game.
 
Tournament History
This season marks the 11th time in program history that Ithaca has earned a spot in the E8 Tournament. The Bombers have only missed conference postseason play one time (2013-14) since the tournament's inception in 2003-04. The Bombers have won two Empire 8 Tournaments over that stretch, claiming back-to-back titles in 2012 and 2013. This year marks the fourth time that Ithaca has entered postseason play as the fourth seed.
 
This marks St. John Fisher's ninth appearance in the Empire 8 Tournament. The Cardinals have won four Empire 8 Tournaments in their history, with their last title coming in 2006-07. Fisher has hosted conference postseason play five times since 2003.

The Other Semifinal
Alfred – Rosters | Schedule | Stats
The second-seeded Alfred Saxons carry an overall record of 18-7 into the tournament. The Saxons were 11-5 in conference play, marking their best Empire 8 record in 16 seasons. Dalton Walsh and sophomore guard Tyler Seelman pace the Saxons offensively. Walsh averages a team-high 16.2 points, 8.9 rebounds and 2.1 blocks. Seelman averages 16.1 points with 54 assists and a team-best 34 steals. The Bombers were 1-1 against Alfred during the regular season.
 
Hartwick – Rosters | Schedule | Stats
The third-seeded Hartwick Hawks finished the season with an overall record of 15-10, with a mark of 10-6 in the conference. Trevor Norton leads the Hawks in scoring, averaging 14.4 points-per-game. Joey Lufkin isn't far behind, averaging 14.3 points-per-game. Matt Wilson and Jake Sinicki lead the team in rebounding, with Wilson averaging 7.3 and Sinicki averaging 7.2 boards-per-game. The Bombers were 1-1 against Hartwick during the regular season.

Ways To Watch
Every game this weekend will feature live stats and live video courtesy of Fisher Athletics.

Admission
Tickets for each day's games are $5 for adults and $3 for students, while children 12 and under will be admitted free of charge.

Parts of this release are courtesy of Fisher, Alfred and Hartwick athletics.