BOX SCORE

Senior forward Will Abrams (Somerset, NJ/Rutgers Prep School) scored 16 points to along with five boards and two assists as the Utica College men's basketball team opened up its season with a, 62-59, road win against SUNY Potsdam Monday night. The game was held at Welsh Gymnasium in Potsdam, NY. Utica is 1-0, while the Bears fall to 0-1 on the season.

Senior point guard James Patterson (Poughkeepsie, NY/Poughkeepsie) also netted 16 points shooting, 5-of-10 from the field, and 2-of-5 from behind the arc. Patterson added four steals, two rebounds and two assists.
UC had the lead at halftime, 27-21, however Potsdam would make a run in the first six minutes of the second half tying the game at 14:01, 38-38. Then at 12:09 remaining, the Bear's Eddie Cross would drain a three-pointer to give Potsdam St. its' first lead of the game. The home team would defend the lead for a little over five minutes before UC tied the score for the third and final time. Senior Robert Whyte (Pompton Plains, NJ/Pequannock Township) rolled a lay-up in at 5:40 to give Utica a 53-51 lead and UC fended off the opponent the rest of the way.

Overall Team Statistics:
FG% Utica 53.8 Potsdam 38.2 3PT% Utica 36.4 Potsdam 35.3 FT% Utica 64.0 Potsdam 64.7

The Pioneers return to action Friday as they cross town to face local rival nationally-ranked No. 19 SUNYIT in Marcy, NY. The Wildcats beat Utica both games last year, including an early season Tip-Off Tournament victory.