ITHACA, N.Y. – The Ithaca College men's basketball team led visiting St. Lawrence University by as many as 19 points in the second half, but a late surge by the Saints and a four-point play with 2.5 seconds left in regulation propelled St. Lawrence past Ithaca, 72-71, in Liberty League action on Friday evening inside Ben Light Gymnasium. With the loss, Ithaca is now 7-6 overall and 3-3 in the Liberty League, while St. Lawrence improves to 8-5 and 5-1.

With 9:54 left in Friday night's league showdown, the Bombers held a 58-39 lead. Just over two minutes later, St. Lawrence closed to within 10 points at 60-50 and then pulled to within a six-point spread, 68-62, with 1:36 to go. After a pair of made free throws by senior Matt Flood at the 1:28 mark, the Saints scored four points in 11 seconds to make the difference 70-66.

Sophomore Cooper Macklin then went 1-for-2 at the line with under 30 second remaining to give Ithaca a 71-66 cushion. St. Lawrence scored on its next possession to make it a one-possession game, 71-68, with 19 ticks on the clock. The Bombers would miss on both ends at the free throw line six seconds later to set up the final possession of regulation. St. Lawrence drove down the floor and a pass from Luke Hicks to Riley Naclerio on the right 3-point wing found the bottom of the net to tie the game at 71-71. Naclerio was fouled on the shot and made the ensuing free throw to put the Saints ahead by one. Ithaca had one final opportunity to win the game, but junior Riley Thompson's 3-point shot was off the mark.

One bright stop of the evening for Ithaca was senior Peter Ezema, who became the 26th player in school history to score 1,000 career points. Ezema entered the game just two points shy from the milestone and eclipsed the mark on a 3-pointer just 2:36 into the matchup. Ezema finished the night with 14 points on 6-of-14 shooting with eight rebounds.

St. Lawrence started the game on a 9-0 run over the opening 2:23. The Bombers battled back to tie the game at 16-16 on a 3-pointer from sophomore Bryan Karl with 9:44 to play in the half, and then the Bombers took the lead, 20-16, on layups from Ezema and junior Sebastian Alderete.

With just over three minutes left in the half, Thompson connected from distance to push IC's lead out to eight points at 33-25, and then a put back by freshman Clay Medling gave the Bombers its first double-digit lead of the night at 35-25 with 1:12 to go. The Bombers would head into intermission with a 37-27 advantage.

Ithaca shot 15-for-38 in the first half and made seven 3-pointers. The Bombers also assisted on 11 made baskets over the opening 20 minutes.

Ezema had seven points and six rebounds in the first half, while Karl led the way eight points off the bench.

The Bombers opened the second half with back-to-back threes from Flood to increase their spread to 14 points at 43-29. IC added five more points to its lead by the 11:27 mark at 56-37 for the largest disparity of the contest, and again at 58-39 with 9:54 left, but that's where the St. Lawrence comeback began.

Ithaca finished the night shooting 27-for-69 (39.1%) from the floor and 12-for-36 (33.3%) from 3-point range. The Bombers went just 5-for-9 (55.6%) at the free throw line and were outrebounded, 48-34. IC did, however, record 20 assists and forced St. Lawrence into 18 turnovers.

Karl paced Ithaca with 15 points on 6-of-15 shooting, while Flood added 11 points and three assists. Freshman Skylar Sinon dished out six assists and Thompson had nine points and five assists. Alderete compiled eight points, five rebounds and three blocks.

Ithaca will look to get back on track tomorrow afternoon at 4 p.m. against Clarkson.