Stevens 73, Utica 69 - BOX SCORE

Utica, N.Y. (12/10/2010) – The Utica College men's basketball team lost its Empire 8 Conference opener against visiting Stevens Institute of Technology, 73-69, Friday night at the Clark Athletic Center. Senior guard James Patterson (Poughkeepsie, NY/Poughkeepsie) netted a game-high 22 points while sophomore guard Kevin Johnson tallied 20 points as the Pioneers (6-2, 0-1 E8) snapped a three game winning streak.

Stevens (6-1) shot 60 percent (15-of-25) from the floor in the second half and outscored Utica by seven points in the final 20 minutes to earn its sixth straight victory. Mike Curti netted a team-high 18 points and guard Russ Thompson dished out a career-high 12 assists to pave the way for the Ducks.

The Pioneers, who fell in an early 7-0 hole, used a 9-2 run over the course of 3:20 midway through the opening half to take their first lead of the game, 20-19, with just under ten minutes to go in the first half. The final 7:33 of the first half featured four ties but the Pioneers used a 5-0 run to close out the half to take a 36-33 lead into the locker room.

Utica started out the second half hot and led by as many as six points, 43-37, 2:34 into the half. The visitors then went on a 10-4 run in a span of 3:13 to knot the score at 47-47 with 14:13 remaining. The final 13 minutes of the game saw three ties and five lead changes until Stevens took the lead for good with 4:38 to go in the contest.

Curti and Sheldon Jones combined for nine points down the stretch to help the Ducks earn the key conference victory. Jones finished the day with 17 points. Simon Smith also had a strong game for the visitors with 17 points and a game-high 11 rebounds.

Utica was only able to score three points in the final 5:35 of the game to lose for the first time in four games.

Sophomore big man Jeff Ward (Ossining, NY/Ossining High School) netted six points and snagged six rebounds for Utica, while Alex Meyer (Salt Point, NY/Our Lady of Lourdes) added six points and seven rebounds off the bench. Senior Will Abrams (Somerset, NJ/Rutgers Prep School) added six rebounds and Almir Gredelj (Utica, NY/Proctor) and Marion Lewis (Bronx, NY/Lehman) combined for nine points.

The Pioneers return to the hardwood for their final game of the first semester on Tuesday night when they travel to non conference rival Union College. Tip-off is scheduled for 8 p.m.

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