Cortland Uses Large First Half to Cruise Past Ithaca, 103-65

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CORTLAND, N.Y. – James Morales (Mount Kisco/Fox Lane) scored 19 of his game-high 22 points in the first half and Justin Cooper (Pine Plains/Stissing Mountain) recorded his third double-double of the season with 17 points and 13 rebounds as Cortland cruised past visiting Ithaca, 103-65, in non-league men's basketball action.

Cortland improved to 3-1 with its third straight victory, while Ithaca had a three-game winning streak snapped and is now 3-2.

Morales finished 8-of-15 from the floor, including 6-of-9 from 3-point range, and also led the Red Dragons with eight assists and three steals. Cooper hit 8-of-10 shots from the floor and added five assists to his 17-point, 13-rebound performance.

Also for the Red Dragons, Nicky Bonura (Mount Kisco/Fox Lane) scored 14 points off the bench with 4-of-6 long distance shooting, and Michael Kelly (Monroe/Burke Catholic) added 13 points and four rebounds.

Ithaca was led by Peter Ezema's 22 points and 12 rebounds. He made 10-of-15 shots from the field. Matt Flood scored 12 points and Carroll Rich chipped in with eight points and four assists.

Cortland shot 50 percent in the first half, including 8-of-17 from the 3-point arc, and led 50-23 at the break. The Red Dragons used a 16-4 run to extend a 16-8 lead to 32-12 with 7:43 left in the half. Morales scored 11 points, including three treys, in the final four minutes of the half to help Cortland take its 27-point advantage.

Ithaca made a brief run and closed its deficit to 17 at 73-56 with 9:05 left, but Cortland scored eight of the next 10 points and never looked back.

Cortland finished the game at 54 percent from the field overall and 47 percent (16-of-34) from 3-point land. The Red Dragons also held Ithaca to 36 percent shooting, 21 percent (7-of-33) from the arc.

Cortland opens SUNYAC play Saturday at 2 p.m. at Oswego in a rematch of last year's SUNYAC title game, which Cortland won 77-74 on a neutral court in Plattsburgh.