Right from the opening tip-off, the Oswego State men's basketball team was in control against visiting Ithaca College. The Lakers scored the first 13 points of the game and cruised the rest of the way as they went on to defeat the Bombers 70-51 in the ECAC Upstate Quarterfinals on Wednesday, March 2, at Laker Hall.

Top-seeded Oswego State (23-6) used a smothering defense and solid shooting to dominate the first half. After scoring the game's first 13 points, eighth-seeded Ithaca got on the board with a bucket, but the hosts then went on a 15-1 run for a commanding 28-3 advantage. The Lakers went on to hold a 41-15 lead at the intermission.

Oswego State limited the visitors to only 17.2 percent shooting from the floor in the opening 20 minutes, while shooting a blistering 64 percent themselves.

Ithaca College made a run at the start of the second half pulling to within 44-30. That would be as close as the Bombers would get as the Lakers were able to remain in control. 

Oswego State will now take on fourth-seeded Hobart on Friday, March 4, at 8 p.m. at Laker Hall. The other semi-final will be at 6 p.m. with RIT or Brockport taking on Cortland or Skidmore. The championship game is slated for 1 p.m. on Saturday, March 5.

Nicholas Perioli (Liverpool) led the Lakers with 20 points with Dave Ponza (Solvay) contributing 12 and Ahmad Mims (North Syracuse) adding 11.

For the Bombers, Jim Bellis (Bloomfield) scored 20 points, including five 3-pointers, while Brian Andruskiewicz (Oakdale, CT) added 11 points.

Ithaca caps the season with a record of 13-14.