Elmira College Men’s Basketball Tip-Off Tournament Preview

The Elmira College Men’s Basketball Tip-Off Tournament begins today at Speidel Gymnasium, with the Oswego State Lakers taking on the Ithaca College Bombers at 5:30 p.m. That game will be followed by the Elmira College Soaring Eagles who will face the Keystone College Giants at 7:30 p.m.

Ithaca College Bombers (0-0, 0-0 Liberty League) vs. Oswego State Lakers (0-0, 0-0 SUNYAC)

Both teams are coming off winning seasons, with the Bombers season ending in the Liberty League Championship semifinals with a 82-77 loss to Skidmore College. The Lakers are the reigning SUNYAC champions and their season extended all the way to the Sweet 16 of the NCAA Div. III Tournament, before losing to Marietta College 78-61. The Lakers are also currently ranked just outside of the top 25 in the nation, only 10 voting points away from No. 25, according to d3hoops.com. 

With this being the first game of the season for each team, expect both teams to come out with winning on their minds, as no team wants to begin their season with a loss. Expect a bit of a shootout in this game, as both teams are very strong offensively, each having some key offensive players return from the 2018-19 season. Some players worth keeping an eye on for the Lakers are junior Liam Sanborn, who averaged 12.6 points per game and led the team in assists with 166 last year, as well as seniors Joe Sullivan (9.9 points per game and 7.4 rebounds per game) and Brandon Gartland (13 points per game). All three are returning starters and were big time players for the Lakers throughout last year’s campaign. 

For the Bombers, look out for seniors Riley Thompson and Sebastian Alderete. Last year, Thompson led the way averaging 17.5 points per game with Alderete right behind him averaging 16.5 points per game. If the Lakers win, they will play in the championship game Saturday at 4:00 p.m., a loss, will send them to the consolation game at 2:00 p.m. Their opponent on Saturday will be against the winner or loser of the game between the Elmira College Soaring Eagles or the Keystone College Giants. 

Elmira College Soaring Eagles (0-0, 0-0 Empire 8)

Last year, the Soaring Eagles finished with a 7-18 record. Elmira College enters the new season without their leading scorer, Justin Porrett who averaged 15.6 points per game, as he graduated. Expect junior Shawn Backus to lead the way this season. As a sophomore, he averaged 13.2 points per game. Elmira College last met Keystone College in the Elmira College Tip-Off Tournament in 2017, where the Giants beat the Soaring Eagles in a high scoring battle 108-105. If Elmira College is to meet Oswego State in the championship or consolation game, it is worth noting that last year, the Lakers defeated the Soaring Eagles in a blowout, winning the game 106-67 in the Max Ziel Men’s Basketball Tournament. 

Keystone College Giants (0-1, 0-0 CSAC)

The Giants come into the weekend as the only team to have played a game this season. In their first game, they lost to Emory & Henry College 101-76. Junior Jeremy Jordan led the way for Keystone College in the contest, scoring a team high 17 points while adding 7 rebounds. Last season, the Giants struggled like their opponent, Elmira College, did. They finished with a 6-19 record and started the season 0-15. The good news for the Giants, however, is their leading scorer from last year, senior Ray Mills, returns who averaged 12.8 points per game. Keystone College also notably finished the season on a three game winning streak.

Photo By Nicole Hube | The Oswegonian