The Bombers are now 10-9 overall and 5-3 in conference play, while the Pioneers drop to 16-3 overall and 8-1 in conference.
The first half was completely dominated by Ithaca, who shot out to an 11-0 lead at 17:12 behind three Leahy 3-pointers and a short jumper from Utica native and Notre High School graduate Sean Burton.
UC crawled back slowly throughout the first half and took a 24-23 lead after Brian Collier (Norwich/Norwich) knocked down a 3-pointer with 5:51 left in the half.
The Pioneers struggles shined through again as Ithaca went on a 14-1 run over the next five minutes and took a 37-25 into the locker rooms at half. Burton and Leahy combined for 32 of the Bombers 37 first half points, shooting a combined 13-for-20 from the floor.
The second half saw a determined Utica group claw its way back into the contest. Collier’s drive and dish to senior forward Ray Bryant (Manhattan/Utica) brought the Pioneers to with in one at 11:39. Bryant led UC with a game-high 24 points and eight boards on the evening.
Senior guard Chris Bitteto (Island Trees/Levittown) knocked down a pull up jumper from the foul line extended to give the Pioneers, who were winners of ten straight before tonight’s contest, a 48-46 lead with 8:30 left in the game. Bitteto scored a solid eight points of the bench for UC on 4-of-8 shooting from the floor. The Pioneers took a four point lead on their next possession when sophomore point guard Doug Herring (Poughkeepsie/Poughkeepsie) found an open Bryant for the lay-in and it seemed as if UC would take control.
Unfortunately for the Pioneers Burton had other thoughts, knocking down one of his three 3-pointers to pull Ithaca with in one point with 7:37 remaining. Burton closed out the night with 19 points and six rebounds, while Leahy scored a team-high 24 points and grabbed seven rebounds.
After Bryant knocked down two crucial free-throws, Leahy responded with one of his four 3-pointers from the right corner to give the Bombers a 60-58 lead with 1:05 left in the game.
Ithaca had the game all but won when they in bounded it with seven seconds left and UC’s Dennis Munch (West Babylon/West Babylon) trapped and tied up Burton in the corner and the possession arrow read Utica, giving the Pioneers one chance to send it to overtime. Collier lobbed Bryant the in bounds pass and he muscled a lay-up in to tie the game at 62-62 and force overtime.
UC took a quick four point lead in overtime, but surrendered six unanswered points to fall to the Bombers in front of a raucous 1,005 fans at the Clark Athletic Center.
Collier closed out the night with 14 points and seven assists, while Herring scored 13 points and grabbed seven rebounds. Jack Lighthall (Adirondack/Boonville) scored six points, and grabbed a team-high 12 rebounds for UC.
The Pioneers return to action Saturday at 4 p.m. against Elmira College at the Clark Athletic Center, while Ithaca travels to Hartwick College to take on the Hawks at 4 p.m.
# # #