Utica 57, Elmira 55 - Box Score

Elmira, N.Y. (2/15/2011) - Senior guard James Patterson (Poughkeepsie, NY/Poughkeepsie) scored a game-high 31 points, including eight straight free throws down the stretch, as the Utica College men's basketball team defeated host Elmira College 57-55 Tuesday night. The Pioneers led by as many as 11 midway through the second half, but the Soaring Eagles stormed back in the final five minutes to keep the game close.

Utica has won four of its last six games and advanced its record to 12-10 overall (6-8 Empire 8) after the victory. The Pioneers missed out on the conference tournament and now have just two games remaining in their 2010-11 campaign. Elmira dropped to 2-21 overall and 1-13 in conference play.

Senior Robert Whyte (Pompton Plains, NJ/Pequannock Township) opened the scoring for the Pioneers just 21 second into the contest, sparking a 10-0 run in the first 5:30. The home team responded with 5-2 run to cut UC's lead to seven. However, UC regained a 10 point advantage by the midway point of the first half.

Elmira made 7-of-11 shots in the last six minutes of the first half to cut the Pioneers lead to one point, 29-28, at the half.

UC returned in the second half shooting 44.4 percent from the floor (8-18) and regained a 13 point lead by 8:45. Patterson led the Pioneers' second half run by scoring eight of the 13 points.

The Eagles went on a 16-5 run to cut UC's lead to two points, 53-51, with less than 3:24 to go. Elmira outshot Utica 5-4 in the last minute of the game but Patterson's four free throws was enough to preserve a 57-55 victory for the Pioneers.

Will Abrams (Somerset, NJ/Rutgers Prep School) netted ten points for the Pioneers, while Robert Whyte (Pompton Plains, NJ/Pequannock Township) and freshman Marion Lewis (Bronx, NY/Lehman) each chipped in with five points apiece. Whyte also added five rebounds. Junior big man Almir Gredelj (Utica, NY/Proctor) came off the bench and totaled four points and four rebounds.

Josh Keys led the way off the bench for the home team with a team-high 16 points and five rebounds. Kurt Dutcher added 13 points and Zach Simpson totaled ten.

UC returns to the hardwood on Friday night when it hosts conference rival RIT. The contest is scheduled to begin at 8 p.m.

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