Nazareth 83, Utica 80 - Box Score

Rochester, N.Y. (2/19/2011) – The Utica College men's basketball team closed out its 2010-2011 campaign with a 83-80 loss to host Nazareth College Saturday afternoon. The Pioneers were led by sophomore forward Jeff Ward (Ossining, NY/Ossining High School)'s 19 point and eight rebound effort. UC wraps up the season with a 13-10 overall record, including a 7-9 mark in the Empire 8 Conference.

The home team opened up an 11 point advantage, 24-14, midway through the first half of play. The Golden Flyers extended their lead to as many as 16 points after a 7-0 run just before the half. UC senior swingman Will Abrams (Somerset, NJ/Rutgers Prep School) connected on a 3-pointer with ten seconds to go to cut the Naz lead to 13 points, 40-27, as the halftime buzzer sounded. Nazareth scored 11 points in the first half off of turnovers.

UC opened the second half on a 13-6 run to cut the deficit to six points, 46-40, with 15:41 to go in the contest. Naz fought right back and went on a 12-3 run in the next five minutes to take a 58-43 lead with just under 11 minutes to go in the game. The Pioneers turned the game around when they went on a stunning 19-4 run over the course four minutes late in the contest to take a three point lead, 73-70, with 2:17 to go in regulation. The lead would change hands three more times before the final buzzer but Naz would eventually extend its advantage to as many as four points with under a minute to go. Abrams connected on a clutch 3-pointer to cut the lead to just one with three seconds left but Naz converted its free throws on the ensuing possession to seal the three point victory.

Senior point guard James Patterson (Poughkeepsie, NY/Poughkeepsie) netted 15 points and added six assists, five steals and five rebounds in his final collegiate contest. Classmates Will Abrams (Somerset, NJ/Rutgers Prep School) and Robert Whyte (Pompton Plains, NJ/Pequannock Township) chipped in with 18 and ten points, respectively. Almir Gredelj (Utica, NY/Proctor) came off the bench and added ten points for UC.

Phil Scaffidi led all scorers with 26 points and he also ripped down eight rebounds, while Brad Ford added 18 points and eight rebounds. Nazareth just missed out on conference tournament play and finished with a 15-10 overall record (8-8 Empire 8).

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