Ithaca Defeats Wells, 72-56
ITHACA, N.Y. – The Ithaca College men's basketball team defeated Wells Thursday evening, dropping the Express by a score of 72-56 at Ben Light Gymnasium. The win improves Ithaca's record to 2-5 on the season. Wells falls to 1-7.
The Bombers shot 42.4 percent on the night, connecting on 25-of-59 shots from the floor. The Bombers converted nine three pointers on 22 attempts, hitting 40.9 percent of their shots from beyond the arc. Ithaca also scored 28 points in the paint, matching the team's highest total of the season.
Senior
Keefe Gitto led the Bombers offensively, pacing the team with 16 points in 32 minutes of play. Gitto secured 19 rebounds in the victory, giving him his third double-double of the year. His rebound total set a career high, and marked the most rebounds in a game since Phil Barera pulled down 20 boards in a 101-95 victory over St. John Fisher on Jan. 8, 2011. Senior
Max Masucci and sophomore
Carlin Champion each chipped in with 12 points.
Despite Ithaca's home court advantage, the visiting Express jumped out to an early lead, starting the game on a 6-0 run. The Bombers battled right back, tying the contest five minutes into the first half on a three ball from junior
Sam Bevan.
Ithaca's momentum carried to the midpoint of the opening frame, as freshman
Carroll Rich nailed another shot from beyond the arc with 10 minutes to go. Rich's shot capped off a 12-5 run, giving Ithaca the 18-11 lead.
Wells was able to pull back within one point of the Bombers, putting the score at 18-17 in favor of Ithaca with 8:44 remaining. The Bombers would go on another dominant stretch over the next three and a half minutes, pulling off an 11-2 run to take a 10-point lead, 29-19. Although Wells was able to slightly close the gap, the Bombers still took a 33-27 lead to halftime.
The Express chipped away again at the Bomber lead in the opening minutes of the second half, pulling to within four points with 16:41 to play. With the score at 39-35 the Bombers scored six-straight points, sparking a 16-4 run over the next four minutes to put Ithaca up by a score of 55-39.
Ithaca was able to hold a double-digit advantage for the remaining 11 minutes, pushing the lead to as much as 17 in the closing moments. Wells was unable to rally, giving the Bombers an impressive 72-56 victory.
Ithaca returns to action on Dec. 30, as the Bombers take on Hamilton at Ben Light Gymnasium. Tipoff is scheduled for 4 p.m.
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