ITHACA, NY – The University of Rochester men's basketball team saw host Ithaca College post a late rally in regulation, but ultimately the Yellowjackets pulled out a road, overtime victory, winning 104-95 on Tuesday evening at Ithaca's Ben Light Gymnasium.
 
Senior Corvin Oprea went coast-to-coast for a layup with under five seconds to play in regulation to tie the score up at 89-all. That score came after the Bombers (1-4) mounted a furious rally, scoring 11 straight points in the final two minutes to take a 2-point lead on a Cole Wissink corner three.
 
Oprea's bucket stopped the 11-0 run and forced the extra session, one in which Rochester (6-1) outscored the Bombers 15-6 to earn victory number six on the season. The 100-plus point output was URochester's second of the season, besting the 103 points put up in the Chuck Resler Tournament Championship against Utica on November 15.
 
On Tuesday, six different 'Jackets scored in double-figures, led by Jordan Owusu's season-high 23 points. The first-year added six rebounds and three steals in playing 29 minutes off the bench. Oprea was the second-leading scorer for UR, ending with 19 points and six rebounds.
 
Others with ten or more points included Tomiwa Adetosoye who had 17 points, 6 rebounds, 6 steals and 3 assists. Sam Henderson had 15 points and a team-high seven rebounds, while Luke Razi scored 12 points and had four boards. John Mayhew chipped in 10 points, making 4-of-5 field goals and both of his 3-point attempts.
 
Ithaca's Evan Cabral led all players with 31 points on the night, making 12-of-23 shots, adding seven rebounds and four steals. Alex Penders had 13 points and seven rebounds while Matthew Zenker and Jaylon O'Neal each scored 12 points.
 
Neither team could get much separation from one another throughout the bulk of the first half until Ithaca used an 11-0 run to grab a 37-28 lead with 4:14 left in the opening period.
 
Down the stretch of the first half, both Mayhew and Owusu hit 3-pointers for the Yellowjackets, but Ithaca had its answers, ultimately taking an 8-point lead into the locker room, up 48-40.
 
The Bomber lead remained seven until Rochester embarked on a 13-0 stretch that covered three minutes, turning the deficit into a 6-point cushion for the visitors.
 
Oprea started the run with five straight points, including an and-one bucket. After Adetosoye sank a pair of free throws, Razi made back-to-back layups before Henderson's hook shot put the Yellowjackets up 60-54 with just under 14 minutes on the clock.
 
Ithaca was able to get back within two on multiple occasions over the next few minutes, but Rochester was able to fend off the hosts with some timely shot-making. A 3-pointer by Mayhew and an Owusu layup stretched the URochester lead to nine, up 73-64, with eight minutes remaining.
 
After the Bombers got back within four, Owusu scored eight straight points by himself, including two triples and a slam dunk, to give the Yellowjackets their biggest lead of the night, leading 81-69 with 5:06 left.
 
Henderson sank two free throws with 2:30 on the clock to maintain a 9-point advantage for Rochester, but the Bombers showed they couldn't be counted out, mounting their late-game run.
 
Over the final 90 seconds of regulation, Ithaca outscored Rochester 11-2, forcing a pair of 'Jacket turnovers while also going a perfect 4-for-4 from the field during the stretch. Before the go-ahead triple from Wissink, Thomas McKiernan also hit a 3-pointerto pull Ithaca within one in the final minute.
 
After the Bombers took the lead, Oprea had a 3-pointer blocked by McKiernan, with Wissink corralling the rebound. He passed the ball over to Cabral who was fouled for a 1-and-1 opportunity.
 
Fortunately for the Yellowjackets, the games leading scorer missed the front end and Oprea grabbed the rebound, turning and running up the floor for a last-second layup to tie the game. Ithaca's last ditch heave as the buzzer sounded fell short, sending the game to overtime.
 
In OT, the Yellowjackets raced out to a lead and never looked back, scoring the first seven points in just 49 seconds, taking a 96-89 lead. Oprea started the spurt with a triple, with Adetosoye getting a steal and layup. Henderson followed with a pair of free throws.
 
The Bombers got within four, trailing 96-92 after a Cabral layup, but Henderson connected at the line for two to answer and an Owusu steal led to a Adetosoye bucket inside to regain a comfortable cushion for the Yellowjackets.
 
URochester combined to shoot 52.8% from the floor overall, making 38-of-72 shots, compared to just 42.5% for the Bombers (37-87). Ithaca drained 11 3-pointers to Rochester's eight, but the Yellowjackets came up clutch at the free throw line, making 20-of-22 attempts (90.9%), versus just 10-of-15 for the Bombers (66.7%).
 
Up next, the 'Jackets head to Brunswick, Maine this weekend to compete in the UAA Challenge, taking on NESCAC conference foes Middlebury College on Saturday and host Bowdoin College on Sunday.