ITHACA, N.Y. – The Ithaca College men's basketball team closed out its 2025 home schedule with a 104-95 overtime loss to the University of Rochester inside Ben Light Gymnasium on Tuesday evening. Ithaca is now 1-4 on the season, while Rochester improves to 6-1.

The game started off with a fast back and forth pace after Alex Penders won the tip off to commence the game. Rochester scored the first basket of the game at 19:10 however Jaylon O'Neal quickly replied with a layup of his own off an assist from Alex Penders. O'Neal netted two free throws having the first tie of the game at 18:34 at 4-4. A threaded pass from Evan Cabral led to an easy layup from Matthew Zenker two minutes into the game.  Back-to-back threes from Cabral and Penders came with 16 minutes remaining as the Bombers took their first lead of the day 12-11. As Rochester made another layup, Cabral responded with another three and a layup of his own putting the Bombers up by 4.

The half continued as a late shot clock fadeaway came from O'Neal after Nick Lemmons made a crucial defensive rebound. Cabral net yet another 3-pointer with 9:40 remaining putting the bombers back in the lead 26-24. A big defensive block from David Luberoff allowed the Bombers to maintain that lead for multiple possessions. Penders off an assist from O'Neal made a successful three with 7:55 remaining in the half as the Bombers lead 29-28. Back-to-back layups from Tommy McKiernan helped to give the Bombers a seven-point lead, 35-28, with 5:15 left in the half. A reverse layup from Cabral and a fade away from O'Neal came as the Bombers kept fighting to pull away late in the first half. 

At the half the Bombers led 48-40 as shot 20-for-38 from the field goal range, 52%, and 43% from the three-point line. Evan Cabral led IC at the half with 19 points as Penders and O'Neal followed with eight each. 

Rochester's Tomiwa Adetosoye opened the second-half scoring with a three-pointer, quickly matched by a jumper from Ithaca's Cole Wissink. Two minutes into the half, Penders muscled his way to the rim for a layup. Early foul trouble for the Bombers gave Rochester frequent trips to the free-throw line, helping the Yellowjackets pull even at 54–54 with 16:17 remaining. Less than a minute later, Rochester reclaimed its first lead since the opening minutes, converting back-to-back layups to go up 58–54.       
    
A three from Nick Lemmond snapped Ithaca's five-minute scoring drought and reignited the Bombers' energy. Lemmond followed it with a determined drive to the basket, finishing a layup while drawing a foul. With 9:10 left, Cabral attacked the hoop for another Ithaca layup, keeping the Bombers within four at 68–64. At 7:53, a deep three from Zenker sparked Ithaca again, trimming the deficit to six.

Back-to-back layups from Zenker made it 73-81 Rochester with 4:20 to play. A late three from Penders with 3:30 remaining kept hope alive for the Bombers. A crucial steal from McKiernan which Cabral capitalized on as the Bombers within four points with 1:21 remaining in the game. A large three from McKiernan off an assist from O'Neal put the Bombers within one with 46.8 remaining. A steal from Wissink converted to a three pointer from Wissink giving the Bombers a two-point lead with 20 seconds remaining. Rochester sunk a last-minute layup sending the game into overtime. 

Overtime began with back-to-back buckets from Rochester giving them a quick 5-point lead. Cabral then netted two free throws and completed a layup off an impressive thread from McKiernan who had a defensive steal to gain possession back for the Bombers. A successful layup from Lemmond put the Bombers within 6 as Rochester led 100-94. The game concluded with a 104-95 final.

At the end of the night Cabral led the team in points with 31 points and three assists along with six rebounds, and four steals. Other impressive bomber efforts came from Penders with seven rebounds, two assists, and 13 points, O'Neal with three steals, 12 points, five assists and four rebounds. Additionally, McKiernan contributed seven points, three steals, three blocks, and two assists.

The Bombers open Liberty League play this weekend at Vassar and Skidmore.