Utica University Athletics

UTICA, NY -- Junior forward Ivan Iton of the Utica College men’s basketball team has been selected as the College’s Male Athlete of the Week for his performance against Ithaca College and Elmira this past week.

Utica’s Ivan Iton led Utica to its first Empire 8 Conference Tournament berth since 2013 as he averaged 17.5 points, 11.0 rebounds and 4.5 blocks per game in a 2-0 week for the Pioneers.

He netted a true buzzer-beater to lift Utica to a 75-74 win over Ithaca on Tuesday night.  He finished the evening with 21 points, 13 rebounds and four blocks against the Bombers.  He came back with 14 points, nine rebounds and five blocks in the Pioneers 34 point win over Elmira on Saturday to help Utica lock up the No. 3 seed in the E8 Tournament.  Iton also became just the 10th player in program-history to eclipse 500 career rebounds last week. He now has 818 points and 515 rebounds.

He capped the regular season leading the league in blocks (2.3 per game) and rebounds per game (9.9) and he also ranks eighth in points per game (17.1).

The Pioneers are back in action on Friday for a semifinal matchup in the Empire 8 Tournament against No. 2 Stevens at St. John Fisher . Tip-off is scheduled for 8 p.m.