Utica 66, RIT 53 - Box Score

Rochester, N.Y. (1/14/2011) – The Utica College men's basketball team outscored RIT by 14 points in the second half on its way to a 66-53 Empire 8 Conference victory on Friday night. The stingy UC defense was able to hold the Tigers (6-8, 3-2 E8) to just 20 points in the second half and 33.3 percent shooting on the night as the Pioneers earned their second straight conference victory.

Utica is now back on track after losing four straight and the Pioneers are turning heads with two straight convincing victories over tough conference opponents (#20 Ithaca, RIT). All nine of the Pioneers who saw action scored at least two points and they were led by senior guard James Patterson (Poughkeepsie, NY/Poughkeepsie)'s 17 point, six rebound effort. Senior Will Abrams (Somerset, NJ/Rutgers Prep School), who was coming off a career-high 31 point night against Ithaca Tuesday, netted ten points and grabbed five steals for UC.

After trailing by one point at the half the Pioneers used a 16-2 run over the course of 8:30 to take a commanding 11 point lead with 5:22 to go in the contest. RIT was able to cut the lead to nine with 1:11 to play but the Pioneers sealed the victory by knocking down six free throws in the final minute of action.

Sophomore forward Jeff Ward (Ossining, NY/Ossining High School) scored seven points and grabbed a game-high 14 rebounds, while Alex Meyer (Salt Point, NY/Our Lady of Lourdes) added nine points off the bench. Marion Lewis (Bronx, NY/Lehman) and Robert Whyte (Pompton Plains, NJ/Pequannock Township) added eight points apiece. Meyer and Whyte also chipped in with five rebounds each.

Anthony Terry led the way for the home team with a game-high 19 points.

Utica returns to the hardwood on Tuesday night when the Pioneers travel to Oneonta, N.Y. to take on Hartwick College in an Empire 8 Conference contest at 8 p.m.

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