ITHACA, N.Y. – The Ithaca College men's basketball team turned a tight first half against RIT into a blowout victory as the Bombers cruised to a 101-72 win inside Ben Light Gymnasium on Friday evening in Liberty League action. Ithaca is now 3-8 on the season and 2-2 in the conference.

Ithaca got off to a slow start, falling behind RIT, 11-2, but the Bombers would find their confidence and offensive balance, setting the tone early with strong perimeter shooting and unselfish ball movement. The Bombers got things with a layup from Evan Cabral followed by a deep shot as Nick Lemmond knocked down a three-pointer, followed closely by another triple to give him six early points.

Ithaca continued to spread the floor effectively, with Alex Penders and Jaylon O'Neal each connecting from beyond the arc as the Bombers kept pace with RIT through sharp execution and timely shooting. Even as RIT answered with baskets of its own, Ithaca's ability to generate open looks allowed them to remain composed and competitive from the opening minutes.

As the half progressed, Cabral emerged as the engine of Ithaca's offense, combining scoring and playmaking to fuel multiple runs. Cabral finished strong at the rim and later buried a three-pointer, building his total to 12 points, while also dishing out five assists to teammates spotting up around the perimeter. Matthew Zenker provided a spark with a three-pointer and a smooth layup, and Cole Wissink added another early three as Ithaca continued to answer RIT baskets and repeatedly cut the deficit to just one or two possessions.

Closing the first half, Ithaca's depth and ball movement continued to shine as contributions came from across the lineup. Penders added another three-pointer, Lemmond hit his third from long range, and Cabral capped the half with another strong finish inside. Despite RIT's late scoring surge, Ithaca's steady offense and confident shot-making kept the Bombers within reach heading into the break. Through the opening half, Ithaca's balanced scoring, perimeter accuracy, and unselfish play underscored a strong, resilient performance.

Ithaca came out strong in the first half, immediately asserting themselves with balanced scoring and precise free-throw execution. Early on, Cabral and Zenker led the charge, with Cabral hitting multiple layups and free throws to reach a career-high 33 points and Zenker adding 20 points by combining driving layups, free throws, and a key three-pointer. Laurence Brady and Yoav Regev contributed with crucial layups and free throws, helping Ithaca steadily build a lead. Wissink also made his presence felt at the line, converting multiple free throws to keep the momentum. By the midway point, Ithaca had established a comfortable margin, 68–60, demonstrating both offensive efficiency and defensive rebounds that limited RIT's second-chance opportunities.

RIT tried to respond with scoring bursts from Muhsin Muhammad, Josiah Turner, Zac Ditzel, and Brody Brown, who combined for multiple layups, jumpers, and three-pointers, including Turner's impressive 16-point contribution. However, Ithaca's shooting consistency, particularly from beyond the arc, kept them in control.

Cabral continued to dominate, adding points from both the line and the paint, while Lemmond and O'Neal contributed timely three-pointers and layups, maintaining Ithaca's momentum. By halftime, Ithaca had turned their balanced scoring into a significant lead, 101–72, showcasing depth, teamwork, and clutch shooting, positioning them strongly for the second half.

The Bombers did not attempt a free throw in the first half, but went 17-for-25 over the final 20 minutes of action. Ithaca also shot 66.7-percent from the field (18-for-27) in the second half.

The Bombers take on Union tomorrow on Saturday, January 10th for another Liberty League matchup, looking to go 2-for-2 on the weekend.