ITHACA, N.Y. – The Ithaca College men's basketball team dropped its 2018-19 home opener to Cortland, 85-75, inside Ben Light Gymnasium on Tuesday evening in non-conference action. With the loss, Ithaca is now 1-2 early in the season, while Cortland improves to 2-1 overall. Despite the 10-point difference on Tuesday, Ithaca and Cortland traded leads 19 times.

Junior Sebastian Alderete matched a career-high with 26 points in the contest as he shot an efficient 10-for-17 from the floor, including 5-of-8 from 3-point range. Alderete, who netted 19 points in the second half tonight, last scored 26 points during his freshman season in his 13th career contest against Nazareth on January 14, 2017. He also added five rebounds and two assists.

Fellow junior Riley Thompson poured in 23 points on 9-of-16 shooting to tally his third straight 20-plus point outing of the season. Thompson notched 15 of his points over the second 20 minutes, to go along with three assists and three boards.

The Bombers scored the opening basket of the game to take a 2-0 lead on a basket from Alderete, but Cortland jumped ahead on a 3-pointer just 1:10 into the contest. The Red Dragons would remain in front for the next nine minutes until freshman Skylar Sinon drilled a 3-pointer at the 9:11 mark to vault IC to a 24-22 edge.

IC added three more points over the next three minutes to increase its lead to 27-22, but Cortland regained control, 28-27, with back-to-back 3-pointers by the 3:08 mark. Senior Matt Flood put IC back ahead just 22 seconds later, but the Red Dragons once again answered and took a 34-32 lead into halftime.

The Red Dragons added a bucket to start the second half to make the score 36-22, but a three from Alderete and a fast break layup from Thompson in a 22-second stretch propelled the Bombers to a 37-36 advantage less than a minute into the second stanza.

Over the next three possessions of the game, the local rival traded leads on each trip down the floor, which resulted in a 41-40 lead for Cortland with 18:06 to go.

The Bombers then scored five of the next seven points on a three by Thompson and basket from senior Peter Ezema to secure a 45-43 edge with just over 16 minutes remaining. IC's lead was short-lived, however, as Cortland knotted things up just 20 seconds later and then built a 49-45 lead with under 15 minutes to play.

Alderete put Ithaca back on top, 50-49, with five consecutive points over the next minute and the Bombers called timeout with 14:05 left. Out of the stoppage, Cortland hit a pair of free throws and went on to 56-52 cushion over the next two minutes.

IC responded with an 8-2 run in a 3:07 stretch to once again go up, 60-59, but that was the last lead the Bombers would hold after a basket from Cortland at 8:43 put the Red Dragons ahead for good at 61-60. Cortland then established a seven-point lead, 68-61, with 7:08 to play. IC was able to get to within four points on two separate occasions for the remainder of the contest, but that was the closest the Bombers could get.

Ithaca shot 27-for-62 overall (43.5%), while Cortland went 30-for-56 (53.6%). The Bombers were outrebounded, 38-30, but held a slim edge in 3-pointers made, 12 to 11.

Flood finished with 10 points on the evening, while sophomore Bryan Karl added six points. Senior Jake Mitchell added five assists and three steals.

The Bombers are back in action on Friday, November 30 at 7 p.m. against Vassar for their Liberty League opener.