Box Score Stevens 97, Utica 76 - Box Score

Hoboken, N.J. (1/13/2012) – Stevens Institute of Technology outscored visiting Utica 30-19 in the final 10:40 of the second half on its way to a convincing 95-76 victory over the Pioneers in Empire 8 Conference play Friday night.  Junior guard Matt Baldwin (Gloversville, NY/Gloversville) led UC with 15 points while sophomore Jevin McClendon (Poughkeepsie, NY/Our Lady of Lourdes) netted a season-best 13 points off the bench for the Pioneers. 

Utica (4-9, 0-3 Empire 8) looks to snap a three game slide on Saturday afternoon when it travels to Hartwick College (12-2, 1-2 Empire 8).  The Hawks dropped a close decision, 73-71, against Ithaca College on Friday night.  The Pioneers will take on the Hawks at 4 p.m.

Stevens jumped out to a 13 point advantage, 19-6 in the first 4:59 of play, but the Pioneers responded with a 15-2 run to knot the score at 21-21 midway through the first half.  UC was able to keep it close for the reminder of the half, tying the score on six different occasions.  Baldwin knocked down one of his three 3-pointers to end the first half scoring as the Pioneers took a 44-42 lead into the locker room at the intermission. 

Stevens took the lead back early in the second half and never looked back. The Ducks used an 18-5 run in the first seven minutes of the second half to take a commanding 13 point lead, 65-52, with 12:50 to go in regulation.  Utica was able to cut it's deficit to eight points with 10:40 to go but that was as close as they would get. 

Sophomore Chris Jeffers (Albany, NY/Bishop Maginn) netted 11 points and added nine rebounds while senior George Schultz (Ridgefield, NJ/Ridgefield Memorial) added ten points on 5-of-7 shooting from the floor for Utica.  Senior Reggie German (New Hartford, NY/New Hartford) registered eight points and tallied five rebounds to help pace the Pioneers. The Ducks were able to hold junior big man Jeff Ward (Ossining, NY/Ossining High School) below his season averages in both points and rebounds.  Ward finished the evening with five points and four boards.  Reigning Empire 8 Rookie of the Week Aaron Nevins (Buffalo, NY/Canisius) added seven points and three assists. 

Sheldon Jones and Mike Curti scored 21 and 20 points, respectively, for Stevens.  Senior forward Simon Smith chipped in with 17 points and ten rebounds. 

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