ITHACA, N.Y. – The St. John Fisher College men's basketball team got back to its winning ways on Saturday as the Cardinals downed host Ithaca College, 87-83, in an Empire 8 bout inside Ben Light Gymnasium.  With the win, Fisher, which has now won eight of its last nine games, improved to 13-5 overall and 8-1 in the conference standings.  Ithaca fell to 6-12 on the season and 2-7 in the Empire 8.

Both teams came out firing to start the game as the lead changed hands four times over the first four minutes of action with Ithaca holding a slim lead, 12-8, with 16:13 remaining in the first half.  Trailing by four, the Cardinals rattled off seven unanswered points capped by a 3-pointer from Ryan Henderson to stake Fisher to a three-point edge, 15-12.

The Cardinals' lead was temporary, however, as the Bombers battled back with five quick points to jump out in front by two, but as had been the case over the game's first 10 minutes, the lead would change sides two more times as both teams put together quick scoring runs to bring the score to 26-23 in Ithaca's favor with 6:59 left to go on the clock.

From there, Fisher found its groove and outscored the Bombers 18-2 over the next 3:09 highlighted by 3-pointers from Henderson and Alex Sausville along with an old-fashioned 3-point play by senior Keegan Ryan to make it a 13-point affair, 41-28.

As the half wore down, the Bombers continued to battle and strung together six unanswered points before heading into the break with Fisher leading by seven, 45-38.

As the second half got underway, both teams continued to see the ball go through the hoop.  Ithaca would come to within five points, 54-49, but the Cardinals pushed their lead to 11 after pouring in six straight points to make it 62-51 with 9:47 remaining in the game.

Fisher's hold would begin to dwindle, however, as the half ticked away as the Bombers put together a 9-1 run fueled by seven straight points to pull to within three, 63-60.  Ithaca would tie the game three times over the next 1:47 before taking the lead, 75-74, on a pair of free throws. 

Playing from behind for the first time since the 6:59 mark of the first half, Fisher responded with five straight points including an and-one from Jake Haight to claim a four-point lead, 79-75, with 1:21 left.  Ithaca sink a deep three from the top of the key to pull to within two, but the Cardinals sealed the deal at the charity stripe to hold on for the win.

Ryan secured his 37th career double-double with a game-high 26 points and 11 rebounds.  Tyler English added 15 points on 4-of-8 shooting to go along with three boards while Sausville contributed 14 points and a game-high six assists in the win.  Haight also notched a double-double with 12 points and 11 rebounds including two on the offensive end of the court.    
 
The Cardinals will continue play on the road at 8 p.m. on Tuesday when they take on Elmira in an Empire 8 matchup.