ITHACA, N.Y. – The Ithaca College men's basketball team dropped a 66-54 decision Vassar College inside Ben Light Gymnasium on Saturday afternoon in the Bombers' regular season finale. Saturday's contest also marked Senior Day for four players on the Ithaca squad this season – Marc Chasin, Joey Flanagan, Tyler Lemza and Carroll Rich. The Bombers conclude the regular season with a 15-10 record and a 10-8 mark in the Liberty League, and will head into the upcoming conference tournament as the No. 4 seed.

The Bombers scored the opening bucket of the game on a layup from Chasin after a minute elapsed, but that was the only lead of the contest for Ithaca, as Vassar tied the game less than 20 seconds later and then went up by three on a 3-pointer with 18:10 on the clock.

The difference would remain within a possession over the next seven minutes until Vassar went up by seven points at 17-10 with 11:43 to play. Ithaca answered with a 5-0 run on a basket from Chasin and a 3-pointer by Flood by the 8:18 mark.

Rich kept the score at a two-point spread at 22-20 with 4:54 remaining in the half, but Vassar would push its lead back up to six 1:21 later. Another three-ball by Flood brought the score back to 26-23 with just over a minute to go, but the Brewers would have the final say in the opening 20 minutes with a 3-pointer of their own on the ensuing possession to head into halftime with a 29-23 lead.

Over the opening 2:26 of the season half, the Brewers built an eight-point cushion at 34-26. Ithaca would battle back with an 8-0 spurt behind five points from Chasin and a 3-pointer from sophomore Riley Thompson by the 14:44 mark.

Vassar then put together a 15-0 run over the next 5:24 to establish a 51-34 disparity with 9:20 to play, and secured its largest lead of the game at 55-37 less than two minutes later.

With 5:17 left in the game and trailing by 17 points, 58-41, the Bombers mounted a valiant comeback effort, as they pulled to within six points at 58-52 with just under three minutes to play. The deficit was too much to overcome, however, as Vassar closed out the game on an 8-2 run to come away with a 66-54 win.

Chasin led Ithaca offensively with 15 points on 6-of-14 shooting, while junior Peter Ezema recorded another double-double with 14 rebounds and 10 points. Lemza tallied seven points and four boards, while Rich added six points, six rebounds and three assists.

Flood finished the contest with seven points, while junior Miles Herman contributed six points and six rebounds.

The Bombers will host Skidmore College on Tuesday evening in the Liberty League quarterfinals. If victorious, Ithaca will head to Hobart College for the remainder of the tournament, which takes place on February 24-25.