News Release

Cortland, N.Y. — Cortland used a 10-0 run at the end of the first half to take a 12-point lead and the Red Dragons went on to defeat visiting Ithaca College, 76-64, in a non-league matchup. Cortland is now 8-4 and is 6-0 versus Empire 8 teams, including two wins over the Bombers. Ithaca falls to 5-7.

Leading 31-29, Cortland started its decisive run with a layup by sophomore Simon Skrelja with 1:41 remaining in the half. Sophomore Frank Ranieri made 3-of-4 free throws between the 1:25 and 1:09 marks, freshman Dave Jutton hit a three-pointer with 42 seconds left and Ranieri converted a layup with two seconds left. Cortland's lead was at least 10 the entire second half and grew to as much as 20 on two occasions.

Sophomore Jon Rother led four Cortland double-figure scorers with 17 points, 14 in the first half. Sophomore Brian Kirchhoff finished with 14 points and five assists. He made 3-of-5 three-pointers in the first half and finished with four treys.. Jutton added 13 points, including 3-of-4 shooting from three-point range, and junior Justin O'Garrow scored 11 points on 5-of-7 shooting.

Ranieri and freshman guard Rodney Headley each grabbed a game-high seven rebounds.

Jim Bellis scored 17 of his game-high 21 points in the second half for Ithaca. Tyler Schulz added 12 points and four rebounds.

Cortland shot 53 percent from the floor, including 63 percent of its shots in the first half. Cortland made 10-of-21 three-pointers (48 percent). Ithaca shot 40 percent, but did hit 8-of-19 three-pointers (42 percent). The Bombers converted on 18-of-23 free throws.

Ithaca College vs SUNY Cortland
1/20/04 7 p.m. at Cortland, NY (Corey Gymnasium)

SUNY CORTLAND 76, ITHACA COLLEGE 64
ITHACA COLLEGE (5-7)
BELLIS, Jim 5-10 8-10 21; SCHULZ, Tyler 5-13 2-2 12; ANDRUSKIEWICZ, Brian
3-4 1-1 8; THOMAS, Nate 2-7 1-2 7; AHMAD, Tariq 1-1 3-4 5; CLEMENTE, Brad
2-4 0-0 5; ROTH, Jesse 1-8 1-2 4; KUBERA, Michael 0-1 2-2 2. Totals 19-48
18-23 64.
SUNY CORTLAND (8-4)
ROTHER, Jon 6-9 3-3 17; KIRCHHOFF, Brian 4-12 2-2 14; JUTTON, Dave 3-7 4-5
13; O'GARROW, Justin 5-7 0-0 11; RANIERI, Frank 3-3 3-8 9; ORTQUIST, Erik
2-5 2-4 6; SKRELJA, Simon 2-2 0-0 4; HEADLEY, Rodney 1-3 0-1 2; WOODS,
Brandon 0-1 0-0 0. Totals 26-49 14-23 76.
Ithaca College................   29   35  -   64
SUNY Cortland.................   41   35  -   76
3-point goals-Ithaca College 8-19 (BELLIS, Jim 3-5; THOMAS, Nate 2-6;
ANDRUSKIEWICZ, Brian 1-2; CLEMENTE, Brad 1-2; ROTH, Jesse 1-4), SUNY
Cortland 10-21 (KIRCHHOFF, Brian 4-10; JUTTON, Dave 3-4; ROTHER, Jon 2-3;
O'GARROW, Justin 1-2; WOODS, Brandon 0-1; ORTQUIST, Erik 0-1). Fouled
out--Ithaca College-None, SUNY Cortland-None. Rebounds-Ithaca College 23
(SCHULZ, Tyler 4; ROTH, Jesse 4), SUNY Cortland 34 (HEADLEY, Rodney 7;
RANIERI, Frank 7). Assists-Ithaca College 13 (THOMAS, Nate 5), SUNY Cortland
16 (KIRCHHOFF, Brian 5). Total fouls-Ithaca College 18, SUNY Cortland 18.
A-410