POUGHKEEPSIE, N.Y. - After starting the season by dropping four out of five out of conference games, the Ithaca College Bombers looked to right the ship as they traveled to Vassar College on Friday, December 5 to begin Liberty League play. However, despite an efficient 27 point effort on 75 percent shooting from junior guard Evan Cabral, the Bombers lost a heartbreaker by a score of 88-85.

Despite recording their third highest point total of the season, the Bombers were only able to net three in the first four minutes of the first half, all three courtesy of Cabral as they trailed 8-3 early. However, a three from sophomore guard Thomas McKiernan assisted by Cabral with 15:41 to go in the first half got the Bombers offense going and started a 10-0 Ithaca run over the next two minutes of game time. 

The Bombers extended their lead to nine with 10 minutes to go in the half from junior guard Jose Padilla. However, a 10-0 run from the Brewers later in the half put them in front 27-23. A Cabral jumper at the buzzer of the first half concluded the scoring and the Bombers trailed 41-38 heading into the half. The Bombers found themselves in this game despite getting outshot by the Brewers from the field and from three-point range, shooting only 26% from behind the arc in the first 20 minutes.

The second half continued to be a back and forth affair with both teams trading buckets. The Brewers looked like they were beginning to pull away after a three-pointer from junior forward Sebastian Medina gave them a nine point lead with under 12 minutes to go. Medina finished the game with 13, one of five Brewers in double figures. 

Over the next few minutes the narrative began to shift in favor of the Bombers. A steal into a fast break layup by junior forward Alex Penders tied the score at 65 with 8:47 to go. The score was tied once again at the 2:47 mark after junior Jaylon O'Neal assisted junior forward Matthew Zenker on a three and the score was tied at 80. O'Neal recorded 18 points and six rebounds on the evening and Zenker had 11, with three three-pointers. 

After a Medina layup put Vassar back in front, the dagger came from a jumper from junior guard 

Shea Fitzgerald and the Brewers had a four-point lead that they would not give up.

The Bombers ended the game with four players scoring in double figures and despite the loss out rebounded the Brewers 40-37. The Bombers drop to 1-5 on the season and have an opportunity to bounce back tomorrow against Skidmore College at 4:00 p.m.