The Utica College men's basketball team held host Elmira College to just eight first half points en route to a 46-32 victory in Empire 8 Conference play Saturday afternoon. Pat Goodman and James Patterson combined for 29 points to help the Pioneers snap a four game losing streak.

The Pioneers improved to 7-11 overall and 2-7 in conference play. Elmira dropped to 3-16 overall.

UC's defense held Elmira to 4-of-24 shooting in the first half and the Soaring Eagles shot a dismal 23.2% from the floor for the entire contest.

The Pioneers opened the contest on a 12-0 run behind five points from junior guard James Patterson and four points from senior forward Andrew Preston. Elmira's first bucket of the game did not come until the 11:37 mark of the first half. The Pioneers were able to extend their lead to as many as 18 points, 26-8, by the end of the first half.

Utica used a 10-6 run in the first five minutes of the second half to extend its lead to 22 points, 36-14, with 15:24 to go in the contest. The Soaring Eagles were able to cut that lead to 17 points by the nine minute mark but that was as close as they would get.

UC snapped a four game losing streak with the victory, while Elmira has now lost six in a row.

Goodman led the way for Utica with 16 points and seven rebounds, while Patterson scored 13. Junior forward Robert Whyte added six points and three rebounds off the bench for the Pioneers.

Utica returns to action on Friday night when they travel to Hoboken, N.J. to take on Stevens Institute of Technology in Empire 8 Conference action at 8 p.m.

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