Graduate captain Riley Naclerio drained a 3-pointer with 2.5 seconds to play, got fouled and finished the four-point play to lift the St. Lawrence University men's basketball team to a 72-71 win over the Ithaca Bombers in Liberty League play on Friday night in Ithaca, New York.

The Saints improved to 8-5 overall and 5-1 in conference play, while the Bombers fell to 7-6 and 3-3.

Naclerio, who went 5-for-18 from the floor and a perfect 7-for-7 from the line, posted his third double-double of the season, scoring 18 points and grabbing 10 rebounds. Naclerio also added three assists and team-best three blocks. Ben Crawford added his fourth double-double of the year with 12 points and 13 rebounds, while Luke Hicks rounded out the Saints' top-3 scorers with 11 points.

St. Lawrence jumped out to an early lead with a 14-6 advantage. The Bombers rallied to tie the game at 16 with a 3-pointer from Bryan Karl.

The Bombers maintained their lead through the remainder of the first half and posted a 37-27 advantage at halftime.

A fast-break layup put the Bombers up by 19 points with 11:27 to play in the second half. The Saints pulled the game within 10 twice down the stretch. A 3-pointer from Dom DeRegis closed the Scarlet and Brown's gap to the single digits and a second 3-pointer from Adeleke Karera brought the game within six points with 1:36 to play.

Naclerio then closed the gap to four with a layup off the pass from Chris Miner with 50 seconds remaining, and secured the Saints' win with a four-point play with 2.5 seconds left in regulation.

The Saints overcame a 19-point deficit and outscored the Bombers 45-34 in the second half to secure the win.

"Going from down 19 to a last second three and a free throw to win, ranks in top-5 most memorable wins of my career," said head coach Chris Downs. "I'm proud of our entire team and of my coaching staff. They all hung in there."

Karl led Ithaca with 15 points, shooting 6-for-15 from the floor, while Peter Ezema scored 14 points and grabbed a team-high eight rebounds.

St. Lawrence combined to shoot 42.4 percent from the floor, 90 percent from the line and scored 16 points off turnovers and 18 off the bench. Ithaca shot 39.1 percent from the floor and scored 19 points off turnovers and 26 points off the bench.

The Saints will take on the Union Dutchmen at 4 p.m. tomorrow afternoon in Schenectady, New York.