ITHACA, NY – The host Ithaca College men's basketball team used a big second half to power past the University of Rochester 86-70 in a non-conference matchup on Wednesday evening at Ben Light Gymnasium.
 
After a strong start in the opening half, shooting 46% from the field and from 3-point range, Rochester (4-4) saw a reversal of fortune in the final 20 minutes, mustering just 36% shooting and only making 1-of-11 attempts from distance allowing Ithaca (5-3) to come from behind.
 
Rochester's leading scorers in the game were graduate student Matt Niemczura and first-year Malachi Moore who each had 12 points. Logan Jagodzinski scored nine and added nine rebounds, while Matt Wiele had eight points and eight boards.
 
Ithaca's Logan Wendell led the Bombers with a game-high 24 points, shooting 7-for-7 from the free throw line and securing nine rebounds. Alex Penders added 20 points off the bench, making 8-of-13 from the field and 4-for-7 from 3-point range.
 
The Yellowjackets jumped out to an early lead over the opening seven minutes, leading 13-6 after a Moore layup inside. After Moore drained a 3-pointer to keep the lead at seven, Ithaca's Triston Wennersten scored five straight points to pull the Bombers back within two points.
 
Rochester remained in front by one after an old-fashioned 3-point play by Wennersten, but then rattled off six straight points on buckets from C.J. Amsellem, Jagodzinski and Niemczura to regain the seven-point cushion.
 
Down the stretch of the opening half, a trio of 3-pointers, two by Corvin Oprea and one from Moore just before the halftime buzzer allowed the Yellowjackets to lead 41-35 at intermission.
 
In the second half Ithaca scored ten of the first 14 points over the first three minutes to pull even at 45-45. After Evan Cabral drove the hoop for a layup, the Bombers took the lead for the first time in the contest with just over 14 minutes left in the game.
 
UR responded with an 8-2 surge, regaining the lead, sitting up 53-49 following a pair of free throws from Wiele.
 
Afterwards, the Yellowjackets cold shooting reared its ugly head, as Rochester went 4-for-13 over an extended eight and a half minute stretch, leading to a 26-9 Bomber run which ended with Ithaca holding double-digit lead with 3:30 remaining.
 
Rochester switched to its full-court pressure defense in the closing minutes, but Ithaca was able to handle it, with Penders capitalizing for seven points over the last three minutes including a game-sealing 3-pointer with 1:18 on the clock.
 
Up next, Rochester is back home in the Palestra after its 3-game road trip, hosting York College of Pennsylvania at 5 pm on Tuesday December 12.