ITHACA, N.Y. – The Ithaca College men's basketball team will look to defend its Liberty League title from the 2019-20 season as the Bombers are one of four programs remaining in this weekend's tournament at RPI. Ithaca, the No. 2 seed, will play No. 3 seed Vassar at 4:30 p.m. in the ECAV Arena on Saturday for a trip to the Liberty League final at 2 p.m. on Sunday against the winner of RPI and Skidmore.
The winner of Sunday's championship game will earn the Liberty League's automatic bid to the upcoming NCAA Division III Tournament.
COVERAGE
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VIDEO
THE CHAMPIONSHIP
Saturday, February 25
RPI (21-4) vs. Skidmore (14-10) – 2 p.m.
Ithaca (17-8) vs. Vassar (16-8) – 4:30 p.m.
Sunday February 26
Semifinal winners – 2 p.m.
SPECTATOR POLICY
External spectators are allowed for the Liberty League Tournament games. All spectators must provide proof of vaccination and wear a mask at all times while indoors.
RECORD VS. THE FIELD
Ithaca split its season series with Vassar, 71-66 (loss) and 72-59 (win).
The Bombers dropped both games to RPI by a combined seven points, 66-61 and 73-71.
IC defeated Skidmore in both matchups, 77-71 and 101-99 (3 OT).
INSIDE LOOK AT THE BOMBERS
Ithaca earned the No. 2 seed and a first round bye after posting an overall record of 17-8 and 13-5 in the Liberty League.
IC averages 81.1 points per game and allows 72.6 points per contest and pulls down 41.6 rebounds, to its opponents' 37.5.
The Bombers are led offensively by
Luka Radovich, who averages 16.6 points per game and shoots at a 50.2-percent clip. Radovich also averages 5.6 rebounds per game and has reached double figures in 17-of-20 games played this season.
Skylar Sinon is a solid No. 2 option for the Bombers, and he makes the offense go with 107 assists on the year. Sinon is averaging 12.2 points per game, to go along with 5.3 rebounds and 53 steals in 25 games played.
After those two, IC can turn to at least eight other players for offensive output –
Jack Stern (9.0 PPG),
Liam Spellman (7.9 PPG),
Logan Wendell (7.6 PPG),
George Sikoryak III (7.3 PPG),
Andrew Geschickter (7.2 PPG),
Zach Warech (6.4 PPG) and
Triston Wennersten (5.8 PPG).
SCOUTING VASSAR
Vassar advanced in the tournament with a thrilling, 71-69, win over Hobart as Jack Rothenberg drilled a 3-point buzzer beater. It was Vassar's first playoff win since 2013-14. Vassar was in the driver's seat to clinch a bye heading into the final stretch of the season, but dropped three of its final four contests.
The Brewers are 16-8 on the season and one of the top rebounding teams in the league, out-rebounding their opposition by 6.7 (40.7 to 34.0). Vassar averages 70.0 points per game and allows 65.5 per outing.
Zach Johnson is the top player for Vassar, averaging a double-double this season with 14.9 points and 11.6 rebounds per contest.
Avni Mustafaj pours in 14.1 points per game, while Rothenberg contributes 9.2 points and 7.3 rebounds. Ethan Ellis also plays a part in the offense with 9.1 points a game.
SCOUTING RPI
Rensselaer, which is hosting the tournament for the second consecutive season, leads Division III in scoring defense, allowing only 57.0 points per game. The opposition shoots 38.5 percent from the floor and is out-rebounded by 7.2 boards per game. Opponents turn the ball over 14.3 times per contest, in part due to the Engineers averaging 7.8 steals. RPI turns the ball over 1.7 fewer times per game than the opposition (6.1).
Patrick Mahoney is the leading point producer for RPI, which averages 71.2 points per contest. A national All-America in 2019-20, he averaged 15.1 points over 15 games before suffering a season-ending injury.
Mason Memmelaar is second in scoring (14.2) and first in rebounding (6.6) while averaging 27.9 minutes. He has made 55.9 percent of his shot attempts (133 of 238) with 59 assists, 30 steals and nine blocks.
Dom Black, who was the conference Defensive Player of the Year in 2019-20, leads the Engineers in minutes (30.5) and steals (46) and ranks second in rebounding average (5.6), assists (68) and blocked shots (10). He averages 11.0 points per game with seven contests of at least 15 points.
SCOUTING SKIDMORE
Skidmore pulled off a 67-55 upset of No. 3 St. Lawrence on Tuesday to find its spot in the semifinal this weekend. The Thoroughbreds are no stranger to the playoff scene, as they have won three of the last six Liberty League titles.
Skidmore is also used to playing in tight games, as it holds a 2.7-point disparity over its opponents and plus-1.8 in rebounds. Five of the Thoroughbreds' games have come down to a single possession.
The Thoroughbreds have four players averaging double figures this season, led by Tautvydas Kupstas, who scores 17.4 points per game. Greg Skoric is a walking double-double with 15.8 points and 12.3 rebounds – he has recorded a double-double in 19 games this season.
Ty Lamport (12.5 PPG), Harrison Eichelberger (11.6 PPG) and Riley Greene (11.1 PPG) also average double figures in scoring.
