Empire 8

[magicman]

Just saw this online - turns out Hartwick's game-winning shot just beat the buzzer, after Ithaca had tied the game with less than 5 seconds left. There's video with the story at:

http://ithaca-cortland.ynn.com/content/sports/571843/buzzer-beater-gives-hartwick-men-thrilling-victory-at-ithaca/

Wow! Thanks for the link Fran, I don't think you could release the ball any later than Keane did and have it count. That ball barely left his hand when the buzzer sounded. Another tough loss for the Bombers, but a huge win for Hartwick to remain tied for the top spot.

On another note, I went over to the Cortland bench tonight to inquire about you, just on the chance you might have traveled north. I didn't think you SID's would go to those lengths but you never know. Sorry I missed you. The Red Dragons got lucky tonight, but as the Bums always used to say, "Wait till next year".

[Bengalsrule]

The Red Dragons got lucky tonight, but as the Bums always used to say, "Wait till next year".

.....Or possibly 2/21/12?!. If the playoffs started today it would be #2 Cortland vs #7 Plattsburgh. (I believe..the SUNYAC website is acting up but Im pretty sure Im close -standing wise).  

[AUKaz00]

Alfred won the Battle of Allegany County, 80-61 over Houghton yesterday.

[AUPepBand]

It will be another big weekend of Empire 8 play. Saxons face toughest road trip of the season and will be hard-pressed to earn a split against the likes of Hartwick and Stevens. AU one of only two teams to beat the Hawks this season. Here's the line-up:

FRIDAY, FEB. 3:
Alfred (13-6, 5-4) at Hartwick (18-2, 7-2)
Elmira (0-20, 0-9) at Stevens (16-4, 7-2)
Ithaca (8-12, 5-4) at Nazareth (14-6, 7-2)
Utica (6-14, 2-7) at St. John Fisher (10-10, 3-6)

SATURDAY, FEB. 4:
Alfred at Stevens
Elmira at Hartwick
Utica at Nazareth
Ithaca at St. John Fisher

Bombers and Saxons battling for that fourth spot in the E8 Tourney with AU currently owning the tiebreaker by virtue of its 84-80 win at Ithaca.

On Saxon Warriors!

[AUKaz00]

Bombers and Saxons battling for that fourth spot in the E8 Tourney with AU currently owning the tiebreaker by virtue of its 84-80 win at Ithaca.

On Saxon Warriors!

Looking like that last spot will come down to second leg at McLane on the 11th.  I'd guess that Alfred goes 2-2 and Ithaca 3-1 in their remaining E8 games not against each other, but unless one of them can finish two games better than the other in those 4 games that outcome will decide the last tourney invite.  Fortunately for Alfred, it's played on a saterday!!!

[AUPepBand]

Saxons lose a heart-breaker at Hartwick, 64-63. Great effort by AU, probably the Saxons' best Friday night performance in E8 play this season. Pep is proud....AU down 21-8 in first half, closed out first half strong to trail 29-23 at halftime. See-saw affair in second half as AU opened second half on a nice run to take the lead. Late turnovers hurt. Nevertheless nice effort.

On Saxon Warriors!

[AUPepBand]

Pep would post the Ithaca-Naz score but last time the D3 scoreboard was wrong.
Nevertheless, here's what Pep's got:
Ithaca 81, Nazareth 59
Utica 72, Fisher 64
Hartwick 64, Alfred 63
Stevens 71, Elmira 60

[Bombers798891]

Andrei Oztemel with the shooting performance of the season in the E8.

10-for-10 overall, 7-of-7 from three point range...27 points in 22 minutes. Unreal.

Nazareth gets in on the stat padding tonight, as Rossi gets 17 assists.

[Pat Coleman]

Pep would post the Ithaca-Naz score but last time the D3 scoreboard was wrong.
Nevertheless, here's what Pep's got:
Ithaca 81, Nazareth 59
Utica 72, Fisher 64
Hartwick 64, Alfred 63
Stevens 71, Elmira 60

::shrug:: we post what schools submit.

[with age came?]

Man Bombers you aren't kidding!!  That is insane!! Perfection every attempt is almost impossible when you've had 17 of them!

[Bombers798891]

Man Bombers you aren't kidding!!  That is insane!! Perfection every attempt is almost impossible when you've had 17 of them!

Well, 10 actually, but 7 of them from three amps up the difficulty rating a lot

[Bombers798891]

Tale of two games:

Friday night:

Andrei Oztemel/Tom Sweeney: 22-of-26 from the floor, 54 points
Sean Rossi/Frank Mitchell: 1-of-9 from the floor, 2 points

Saturday afternoon:

Oztemel/Sweeney: 5-of-9 from the floor, 11 points
Rossi/Mitchell: 17-of-23 from the floor, 42 points

Bombers flip the script, pick up a huge win, 72-59, at Fisher. Coupled with Alfred's blowout loss to Stevens, the 7-4 Bombers are now two full games ahead of the Saxons for the last spot in the E8 tournament. Alfred now has to hope they beat the Bombers again, and that Utica or Elmira pulls off an upset.

What happened to Fisher? Two years ago, they were 15-1 in conference, and even last year, a solid 10-6. Now they're 3-8. Roster turnover maybe?

[AUPepBand]

Final weekend of E8 conference play with the top four teams pretty much already settled. Saxons' only chance is if the Bombers, with a two-game lead for the fourth and final spot, get bombed at Elmira tonite and AU takes care of business with Utica, setting up a most interesting scenario as AU-IC square off tomorrow afternoon. Then AU will play Elmira and Ithaca will play Utica next Saturday.

Tonight's Games:
Ithaca (7-4, 10-12) at Elmira (0-11, 0-22)
Utica (3-8, 7-15) at Alfred (5-6, 13-8)
Hartwick (9-2, 20-2) at Nazareth (8-3, 15-7)
Stevens (9-2, 18-4) at Fisher (3-8, 10-12)

Saturday's Games:
Ithaca at Alfred
Utica at Elmira
Hartwick at Fisher
Stevens at Nazareth

On Saxon Warriors!

[AUPepBand]

Looks like the #4 seed in the Empire 8 Tournament will back its way in as Ithaca drops a 70-62 game at Elmira, giving the Soaring Eagles their first win of the season. Meanwhile, 60 miles west, Utica gets a 3-pointer with 1.6 seconds remaining to defeat Alfred, 63-61 after the Saxons had taken a 61-60 lead with 8 seconds to go. It was the second straight Defibrillator Friday for the Saxons, who last week dropped a 64-63 heartbreaker at Hartwick.

With the Bombers losing, AU still has a remote (although unlikely) chance of getting the #4 seed but must win today over Ithaca, then defeat Elmira next Saturday and hope the Ithaca boys get tripped up at Utica.

On Saxon Warriors!

[Bombers798891]

Looks like the #4 seed in the Empire 8 Tournament will back its way in as Ithaca drops a 70-62 game at Elmira, giving the Soaring Eagles their first win of the season. Meanwhile, 60 miles west, Utica gets a 3-pointer with 1.6 seconds remaining to defeat Alfred, 63-61 after the Saxons had taken a 61-60 lead with 8 seconds to go. It was the second straight Defibrillator Friday for the Saxons, who last week dropped a 64-63 heartbreaker at Hartwick.

With the Bombers losing, AU still has a remote (although unlikely) chance of getting the #4 seed but must win today over Ithaca, then defeat Elmira next Saturday and hope the Ithaca boys get tripped up at Utica.

On Saxon Warriors!

Bombers continue their Jekyll and Hyde ways...beating Alfred soundly to claim the last spot in the E8 tournament. Ithaca has every shot in the tournament, having beaten the Hawks once, Naz twice and hanging with Stevens once, but...well, it's Ithaca. Still, at least they got in