ITHACA, N.Y. – The Ithaca College men’s basketball team defeated the SUNY Cortland Red Dragons 64-58 in their home opener on Wednesday night in Ben Light Gymnasium. Ithaca is now 2-1 on the season.
The Bombers won a back-and-forth game against the Red Dragons in a contest that had eight lead changes. The Bombers were led by Chris Leysath and Logan Wendell. Leysath completed a double-double, he had 16 points and 13 rebounds in 33 minutes of play. Wendell led the team with 21 points, and contributed six rebounds.
Ithaca trailed in the early going due to multiple made shots from beyond the arc from Cortland. A resurgence late in the half following a well-executed timeout allowed the Bombers to take a 23-22 lead.
However, the Red Dragons took the lead right back forcing turnovers to go on an eight-point run to lead 30-23. The Bombers were able to get back within two off back-to-back drives from Wendell and Jose Padilla, but Cortland struck back with a three to end the quarter with Ithaca trailing 29-34.
Ithaca started the half with a six-point run with three layups from Wendell, Evan Cabral, and Laurence Brady, to take the lead 35-34. The Red Dragons would take the lead right back, yet again with a layup of their own to lead 36-35. Shortly after Ithaca came back with a free throw from Cabral and a three-point shot from Aidan Holmes to take a 44-41 lead.
The Bombers and the Red Dragons then exchanged points and leads, and the Bombers came out on top leading 50-47 with 7:35 remaining in the second half. The Bombers then started to pull away with five straight points including a jumper from Cabral, a free throw from Wendell, and a jumper from Leysath.
Wendell then made four straight free throws with about one minute remaining in the second half to give the Bombers a late 61-54 lead, and their biggest lead of the game. Ithaca then made three more free throws to help them to a 64-58 win.
After being down by 5 at half Coach Farid and @IthacaMBB team turned the game around in the second.
With that the bombers advance to 2-1 and get their second straight MBB Cortaca win. They return next week on the road at Utica.
Here’s my conversation with Coach Farid: pic.twitter.com/tlmoFrxvnL
— Devon Jarvis (@DevonJarvis_) November 14, 2024
IC shot 44.4% in the second half and held Cortland to 30.3%, including 0-for-10 from 3-point range over the final 20 minutes.
The Bombers next game is on the road next Wednesday at 6:00 p.m. against Utica University.
