News Release

ITHACA, N.Y. — The Bombers opened their season with a win for the fifth time in six years, holding off visiting Cortland. Ithaca opened up a 16-point lead late in the first half before the Red Dragons rallied; Cortland pulled to within one point with 8:41 left but Ithaca held the Red Dragons without a basket over the next 6:20 to pull away.

Freshman guard Brian Joe (Southside/Elmira) came off the bench to score 14 points in his collegiate debut. Junior guard Jim Bellis (Bloomfield Central/Bloomfield) also netted 14 for the Bombers. Junior forward Brian Andruskiewicz (Montville/Oakdale, Conn.) added 13 points and game-best totals of 10 rebounds and four steals. Senior guard Jesse Roth (Saratoga Springs/Saratoga Springs) scored 10 points.

Cortland was led by junior forward Frank Ranieri (Cicero-North Syracuse/Cicero), who finished with 16 points, six rebounds and three steals. Sophomore guard Rod Headley (Peekskill/Peekskill) and freshman forward Michael Jankiewicz (Oriskany/Oriskany) added 11 and 10 points, respectively.

Cortland vs Ithaca
11/20/04 7 p.m. at Ben Light Gymnasium; Ithaca, N.Y.
At Ben Light Gymnasium; Ithaca, N.Y.
ITHACA 62, CORTLAND 54
CORTLAND (0-1)
Frank Ranieri 7-13 2-2 16; Rod Headley 4-6 3-4 11; Michael Jankiewicz 4-5
2-2 10; Dave Jutton 1-6 1-2 4; Brian Kirchoff 2-9 0-1 4; Jamie Procino 1-1
0-2 3; Simon Skrelja 1-5 1-2 3; Justin O'Garrow 0-9 2-3 2. Totals 20-54
12-20 54.
ITHACA (1-0)
Brian Joe 4-9 2-2 14; Jim Bellis 3-12 6-10 14; Brian Andruskiewicz 5-9 1-2
13; Jesse Roth 5-11 0-0 10; Nate Thomas 1-3 2-2 5; Jonathan Whetstone 1-4
2-4 4; Brad Clemente 0-2 2-2 2; Sean Backus 0-1 0-0 0. Totals 19-51 15-22
62.
Cortland......................   30   24  -   54
Ithaca........................   36   26  -   62
3-point goals-Cortland 2-19 (Jamie Procino 1-1; Dave Jutton 1-5; Brian
Kirchoff 0-4; Justin O'Garrow 0-6; Frank Ranieri 0-3), Ithaca 9-21 (Brian
Joe 4-9; Jim Bellis 2-5; Brian Andruskiewicz 2-2; Nate Thomas 1-3; Jesse
Roth 0-2). Fouled out--Cortland-None, Ithaca-None. Rebounds-Cortland 35
(Brian Kirchoff 6; Frank Ranieri 6), Ithaca 46 (Brian Andruskiewicz 10).
Assists-Cortland 7 (Frank Ranieri 2; Justin O'Garrow 2), Ithaca 12 (Jonathan
Whetstone 3; Jesse Roth 3; Nate Thomas 3). Total fouls-Cortland 15, Ithaca
17.