UTICA, NY – Utica College men's basketball coach Andrew Goodemote and junior forward Ray Bryant (Manhattan Center/Utica) were both honored by D3Hoops.com and the NABC for guiding the Pioneers to the “Sweet 16” of the NCAA Division III Tournament.

Goodemote, a native of Gloversville, was named the 2006 NABC Division III – East Region Coach of the Year and the D3Hoops.com East Region Coach of the Year, while Bryant took home NABC East Region First-Team and D3Hoops.com East Region First-Team honors.

Utica, who capped its season with a program-best 23-7 overall record, lost to St. John Fisher College 94-78 last Friday in Amherst, MA. The Pioneers defeated Gordon College 71-66 and nationally-ranked Worcester Polytechnic Institute 76-58 en route to the third round of the Tournament.

Bryant, an Empire 8 Conference First-Team selection, averaged team-highs of 18.8 points, and 8.1 rebounds on the year, while shooting 55% from the floor through 30 games. Bryant averaged 25 points and 11 rebounds in three NCAA Tournament games.

Utica closed out the regular season ranked fourth in the East Region by the NCAA and received an at-large bid to the Tournament after falling to nationally-ranked Fisher in the Empire 8 Conference Championship. Utica ended up ranking third in the nation on the strength of schedule and was chosen second out of the 33 schools that received at-large bids.

“Advancing to the Sweet 16 was a great way to say good bye to our seniors,” said Goodemote, who recently shared Empire 8 Conference Coach of the Year honors with Fisher's Rob Kornaker. “It was exciting to see UC community come together and rally behind our guys and I look forward to another successful season next year.”
                                               (Phoenix, NY/Phoenix) #