ITHACA, N.Y. – The Ithaca College men's basketball team saw its playoff hopes end on Friday evening, as the Bombers fell to Bard College, 102-97, in overtime inside Ben Light Gymnasium. Ithaca is now 12-12 on the season and 7-10 in the Liberty League with one game remaining on its schedule.

Bard jumped out to a 19-11 lead within the opening seven minutes of the contest, but the Bombers answered with a 10-0 over the next two minutes to go ahead 21-19, which was sparked by defensive pressure from Jaylon O'Neal and seven points from Alex Penders.

The Raptors responded with a run of their own, outscoring IC, 18-6, over the next five minutes to make it a 10-point spread at 37-27. Bard would extend its lead to 42-30 with 4:34 to go in the half, but the Bombers closed out the half down eight points at 46-38.

Logan Wendell led the Bombers in the first half with 10 points, while Bryce Bleibtrey nailed a pair of 3-pointers.

Three players for Bard reached double figures in the first half, led by 12 from Elliot Harris. Bard shot 18-for-33 (54.5%) from the field in the half and 7-for-12 (58.3%) from 3-point range.

IC came out of intermission and tied the game at 47-47 just 2:10 into the second half. Evan Cabral scored on a pair of layups, while Triston Wennersten drilled a three and Wendell made two free throws.

The Bombers knotted the game back up at 55-55 and then took the lead at 60-57 on a Bleibtrey 3-pointer with 12 minutes to go. Bard answered with a triple on the next possession, but IC hit a corner three from Andrew Geschickter just a few seconds later to go back up, 63-60.

It was an intense battle over the next four minutes leading up to a 68-68 tie with 7:37 left in the game. IC called a timeout following a three by Geschickter, but Bard put together a 5-2 spurt over the next two minutes to go back on top, 73-70, with 5:45 on the clock.

The Raptors would hold a five-point edge at 81-76 with 2:39 to go, but the Bombers fought back to within a point at 81-80 with 1:29 left. Bard made both attempts at the line with 1:10 to go but missed a 1-and-1 with 50 seconds left to keep the game at one possession. Ithaca burned another timeout with 38.1 seconds remaining and Wennersten went 2-for-3 at the line after a pair of fouls by Bard to make it 83-82 with 27.8 seconds to go.

Bard pushed the difference back out to three with two more made free throws, 85-82. IC called its final timeout with 16.7 seconds left and tied the game at 85-85 as Geschickter hit a 3-pointer to send the game to overtime.

In the extra sessions, Bard went up by four points at 93-89, but IC cut it back to two on a Wennersten layup with 1:18 remaining. A turnover on IC's ensuing possession led to a three-point play for the Raptors to make it 96-91. The Raptors maintained their five-point lead at 100-95 with 20.8 seconds to go and would put the game away with a final of 102-97.

Six Bombers reached double figures, as Wendell led the way with 18 points and five assists. Wennersten (seven rebounds), Cabral (six rebounds, three assists), Geschickter and Bleibtrey (seven rebounds) all finished the evening with 13 points, while O'Neal added 10 points with five steals.

Ithaca will recognize its senior class prior to its 4 p.m. contest against Vassar tomorrow afternoon.