The Ithaca College Men’s Basketball Team was ranked 2nd in the NCAA Division III East Region Standings released on February 28th.
The Bombers finished their season with an overall record of 20-7. Ithaca faced Massachusetts Institute of Technology and lost in the first round of the NCAA Tournament 82-78.
The Bombers’ Season
The Bombers faced MIT in the first round of the NCAA Tournament and fell in a close match 82-78. With 7:08 left to go in the game, Ithaca went on a 13-4 run and took the lead 70-69. Ithaca hit another three before MIT retook the lead with five straight points. Four lead changes over the final 3:14 ended with MIT taking the lead for good.
Most games this season were won or loss within a 10-point margin. There were a few huge point deficit games but for the most part the Bombers were comfortable with a close game. Bombers still have much to celebrate as they had a 20-win season and made an NCAA Tournament appearance via an at-large bid. Head Coach Jim Mullins leads the Bombers and looks to Phil Barera, Sean Rossi, Chris Cruz-Rivas, and Jordan Marcus to win.
About The Team
Head Coach Jim Mullins is in his 14th season with the Bombers. Mullins has led the Bombers to three ECAC Upstate NY titles, three 20-win seasons in a row, posted a 24-3 record during the 2008-09 season which was the most wins in program history, won 12-straight games in two seasons, and compiled a conference-best 15-1 record.
Mullins has been named Empire 8 Coach of the Year twice, and was also named East Region Coach of the Year by D3hoops.com.
Senior Phil Barera was named Empire 8’s Player of the Year, Empire 8 First Team D3Hoops.com All-East Region First Team, and NABC Second Team All-American. Barera averaged 17.4 points per game and 8.6 rebounds per game.
His 66.7% field-goal accuracy ranks him second in the nation and has tallied over 10 double-doubles. Sophomore Sean Rossi was also named to the Empire 8 First Team and D3Hoops.com All-East Region Second Team. Rossi was last season’s Rookie of the Year, but now averages 9.7 assists per game and an assist-to-turnover ratio of 4.2. He has over 464 career assists, with over 250 coming from this season alone.
Rossi was also named to the Penn State-Behrend All-Tournament Team, and the MVP of Franklin and Marshall’s Sponaugle New Years Tournament. Senior Chris Cruz-Rivas and Junior Jordan Marcus were named to the Empire 8 Second Team. Cruz-Rivas averaged 14 points and 8.4 rebounds per game, while reaching the 1,000-point career mark. Marcus averaged 12.6 points per game and a 44% three-point accuracy.
About The School
Ithaca College is located in Ithaca, NY and offers a wide array of academic programs. Ithaca College offers the perfect blend of a liberal arts education and professional preparation. Academic programs promote critical thinking and hands-on learning, while students work closely with experienced and accomplished faculty.
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