Ithaca, NY – Almost everything was even between the Clarkson University Men's Basketball team and Ithaca College on Saturday afternoon, but the Bombers scored 18 points off 15 turnovers by the Golden Knights and that proved the difference in a 93-86 Liberty League decision.

The Golden Knights saw their mark fall to 12-11 overall and 6-10 in the Liberty League, while the Bombers moved to 12-11 and 7-9 in conference. There are many scenarios remaining that could shuffle tiebreakers around, but Clarkson will need two wins and some help next weekend to have a shot at making the conference tournament.

Both teams were off to modest starts considering that the two squads ranked as the best offenses in the Liberty League. Ithaca was able to gain a foothold midway through the first half, pushing its lead to nine after a Jaylon O'Neal layup at the 9:26 mark. The advantage swelled to double figures shortly thereafter when Logan Wendell hit a 3-pointer and then added a layup, and the margin would hit 15 points when Alex Penders drilled a jumper at the 5:46 mark. However, no lead was truly safe against Clarkson, as the team quickly rallied back with seven points in less than 90 seconds. Although Ithaca would again lead by double digits in the final two minutes of the half, the Knights cut the margin to a reasonable seven points at the break.

Twice in the early going of the second half, Clarkson was able to get within one, but a 9-0 run by the Bombers put the gap back at 10. At that point, Ryan Miles-Ferguson began scoring almost at will, hitting a pair of 3-pointers to reduce the lead to four. A few moments later, an Ithaca 3-pointer rattled out and a quick transition saw Braeden Burns tripped up in the lane at the other end, converting the fast break layup-and-one to tie the game at 66 with a little over eight minutes to go.

The Knights would tie the game one more time, but Ithaca's Andrew Geschickter started to take some of the scoring pressure off Logan Wendell. Geschickter made three free throws after being fouled in the corner on a long-range shot. He then hit a jumper and two more 3-pointers in the next two minutes to put Ithaca up eight. The Bombers again went up by double digits, only to see Clarkson make things interesting down the stretch. Two quick layups from Ryan Miles-Ferguson and Frankie Rainville reduced the deficit to five, but that would be as close as it would get, with the Bombers hitting enough free throws to keep the Knights at a relatively safe distance.

Ryan Miles-Ferguson finished within one point of his season-high, shooting 10-for-21 points to record 33 points while also adding in 10 rebounds. Frankie Rainville was 8-for-13 from the floor for 20 points and Braeden Burns scored 15 points with seven boards.

Ithaca's Logan Wendell scored 37 points, scoring 19 points in the first half on 9-for-11 shooting and 18 more points in the second half. Geschickter finished with 17 points, including 12 points in the final six minutes of the game.