Follow Live Stats

The Utica College men's basketball team heads to Rochester, NY Friday to challenge Empire 8 conference rival Rochester Institute of Technology. Tip-off is scheduled for 8 p.m. at Clark Gym. The Pioneers are 7-5 overall including a 1-3 record in the Empire 8 Conference, while the Tigers are 6-7 this season, however they have a 3-1 mark in Empire 8 play.

UC snapped its four game losing streak Tuesday as it beat nationally ranked No. 20 Ithaca College, 85-81, at home. The Pioneers were led by senior swingman Will Abrams (Somerset, NJ/Rutgers Prep School) who recorded a career-high 31 points, to go along with four boards, two assists and two blocks.

Senior guard James Patterson (Poughkeepsie, NY/Poughkeepsie) leads the team in points (17.3 ppg), assists (4.3 apg), and steals (2.8 spg). In the conference, Patterson is first in steals, second in scoring and fifth in assists.

Complimenting Patterson is sophomore guard Kevin Johnson who is second in points (12 ppg), assists (3.8 apg), and steals (2 spg). Johnson leads the team in free throw percentage (.795%).

Senior forward Will Abrams (Somerset, NJ/Rutgers Prep School) also is averaging 12 points per contest to along with his 4.3 boards per game while starting in all 12 games this season.

Last season, RIT beat UC both games. On Jan. 29, the teams battled in an overtime thriller that ended with Utica on the short end of 110-103 loss. This marked the first time either team had scored 100 points since 2006.

Since the 2005-2006 season, the Tigers hold an 8-2 record against the Pioneers, outscoring them by a margin of almost ten points per contest (9.62). UC's last victory against RIT came back on Jan. 26, 2007 when Utica beat the Tigers 91-77.

Following Friday's game, the Pioneers have 11 conference games, including seven road games. UC currently holds a road record of 4-2 this season.