BOXSCORE |
CUMULATIVE STATSITHACA, N.Y. -- Junior Ryan McAdam and sophomore Corey McAdam recorded 25 and 23 points respectively for the Golden Flyers, but it was not enough as the Bombers outscored Nazareth 54-33 in the second half to go on to the 88-84 victory in an Empire 8 basketball game.
With the loss, the Golden Flyers finish the regular season with an 18-7 overall record and an 11-5 record in the Empire 8. Ithaca improves to 17-8 overall and 12-4 in conference games with the victory.
Ithaca will host the four-team Empire 8 Conference Tournament next weekend. Nazareth, as the third seed will play second-seeded Stevens Friday at 6 p.m. Top-seeded Ithaca will play fourth-seeded St. John Fisher at 8 p.m. The winners will play again Saturday at 3 p.m. for the E8 title and the automatic berth to the NCAA Tournament.
Nazareth controlled the first half as the Golden Flyers took a 51-34 halftime lead following a three-pointer from Ryan McAdam, who scored 15 of his points in the first 20 minutes. The Bombers chipped away at the Golden Flyers lead throughout the second half. Ithaca recorded seven consecutive points in a 45-second span to cut Nazareth's lead from 13 to six points with 11:48 left in the second half. Ithaca's Tom Brown made a layup and connected on two free throws while Sean Leahy capped the run with a three-pointer to cut Nazareth's lead to 65-59.
The Bombers and Golden Flyers traded baskets for much of the next 10 minutes of the game. Ithaca took its first lead of the game, 84-82, after a three-pointer from Leahy with 38 seconds to play. On Nazareth's ensuing possession, Corey McAdam attempted to tie the game by driving the lane, but the Bombers contested his shot well and grabbed the defensive rebound. Ithaca's Sean Burton connected on all four of his free throw attempts in the final 21 seconds to seal the game.
The Bombers used a balanced scoring attack to rally past Nazareth as five Bombers finished in double digits. Burton finished with 19 points followed by Leahy with 17 points, Louis Kail with 16 points, Tom Brown with 12 points, and Jeff Bostic with 11 points. Bostic also recorded a game-high 20 rebounds. In addition to Nazareth's points from the McAdam brothers, junior Jeff DeHimer and sophomore Rayvon Higdon each added 10 points. The Bombers held Nazareth's scoring leader, senior Joe Canori, to six points.
Ithaca held a 50-41 advantage in rebounds however Nazareth forced the Bombers into 17 turnovers, many of which came in the first half. The Bombers had an overwhelming advantage at the free throw line as Ithaca connected on 26 of 36 opportunities. Nazareth connected on seven of nine chances. The Golden Flyers were called for 23 personal fouls as opposed to 12 for Ithaca.