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Utica, NY (1-24-12)- The Utica College men's basketball team looks to continue its two game winning streak Tuesday night as the Pioneers take on Empire 8 Conference foe Ithaca College.

Tip-Off: The game will be held at the Ben Light Gymnasium and is scheduled to start at 8 p.m.

The Pioneers: Utica improved to 6-11 overall and 2-4 in the conference after earning two wins this past weekend … UC snapped a five game losing skid with a win on Friday … This season has featured two five game losing streaks and Utica is 3-10 since starting the season 3-1. 

Baldwin Scores in Bunches:  The Pioneers are led by junior guard Matt Baldwin (Gloversville, NY/Gloversville) who is averaging a team best 16.6 points per game, which ranks fifth in the Empire 8 … He also leads the team in free throw percentage (73%).

Owning the Boards: Sophomore forward Chris Jeffers (Albany, NY/Bishop Maginn) has played a big role for the Pioneers, starting the past eight games, and he is averaging well over 10 rebounds per game during that time … He currently ranks third in the Empire 8 in rebounds with 9.0 per game.

Sixth Man: Sophomore forward Jevon McClendon has been a key player for the Pioneers off the bench this season and he recently posted a season-high 13 points against Stevens on January 13 … McClendon has netted six three point shots in the past five games …  He is averaging 7.6 points and 5.8 rebounds per game over the course of his last five appearances.

Rock Solid: Senior guard Reggie German (New Hartford, NY/New Hartford) ranks third on the team in scoring (11.3) and rebounding (5.9) ... He also ranks second on the team in free throw percentage (71%).

Go To Big Man: Junior forward Jeff Ward (Ossining, NY/Ossining High School) has been the Pioneers go to big man as he ranks second on the team in points (15.1) and rebounds (7.7) … He also ranks first on the team in blocked shots (1.8), and field goal percentage (.634).


Getting to Know the Bombers: Ithaca (7-10, 4-2 Empire 8) is currently ranked fourth in the Empire 8 … The Bombers have won four out of their last six games after splitting a pair of contests over the weekend … They defeated Elmira 75-70 on Friday before losing to Alfred 84-80 Saturday ...  Ithaca is led by junior guard Sean Rossi who ranks second in the nation in assists with an average of 8.6 per game … He also ranks18th nationally with an assist-to-turnover ratio of 2.7.

Empire 8 Action:  Stevens Institute of Technology (13-3, 5-1 Empire 8) is atop the Empire 8 standings, with Hartwick (15-2, 4-2 Empire 8), Nazareth (11-6, 4-2 Empire 8), and Ithaca (7-10, 4-2 Empire 8) tied for second place trailing by two games … Alfred (10-5, 3-3 Empire 8) sits alone in fifth, while St. John Fisher (9-8, 2-4 Empire 8) and Utica (10-6, 2-4 Empire 8) are tied for sixth after the Pioneers got two conference wins this past weekend … Elmira (0-16, 0-6 Empire 8) rounds up the Empire 8 standings in eighth as they remain winless.

Back on the Court: Utica returns to the court this weekend as it hosts a pair of Empire 8 Conference games … The Pioneers will take on Hartwick College Friday at 8 p.m. before hosting Stevens Institute of Technology on Saturday at 4 p.m.


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