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Utica, NY (2/7/12) – Utica College's men's basketball team will hit the road for two Empire 8 Conference games, starting with Alfred University set to tip off at 8 p.m. on Friday before traveling to Elmira College at 4 p.m. on Saturday.
UC Pioneers: Utica holds an overall record of 7-15 with a 3-8 mark in the E8…The Pioneers have a split record of 1-1 in February…Utica will have one game remaining in its regular season, after this coming weekend.
Hard Work Paying Off: First-year forward
Chris Jeffers (Albany, NY/Bishop Maginn) was named the Empire 8 Conference Rookie of the Week after averaging 11.0 rebounds and 8.0 points per game as Utica went 1-1 this past weekend … Jeffers, who has worked his way into the starting roll as this season has progressed, is currently averaging 6.5 points and a team-best 8.7 rebounds per contest this season … He has four double-doubles for Utica this year and he has snagged ten or more rebounds in ten games this season.
Nevins' Eyes Down Rookie of the Year: First year point guard
Aaron Nevins (Buffalo, NY/Canisius) has been named the E8 Rookie of the Week three times this season (more than any other rookie in the conference)…He is averaging 8.7 points per-game with 192 points on the year…Nevins has moved up to 3rd in the conference in assists with 84 and an average of 3.8 per-game.
A Ward of the Week: Junior forward
Jeff Ward (Ossining, NY/Ossining High School) was named the College's Male Athlete of the Week for the week ending Feb. 5, 2012 after averaging a double-double over the weekend … Standing 6'7” tall, Ward is third in the conference for blocks with 35 and seventh in rebounds, averaging 8.2 per-game…More impressively, Ward leads the E8 with a .626 field-goal percentage.
Meet the Saxons: Alfred holds a 13-8 overall record, including a 5-6 mark in the E8…The Saxons have lost their last two games, both coming in the month of February…Since their last visit against the Pioneers, Alfred has gone 4-3... The Saxons are led by senior Josh Parker who leads the team in points (14.1), rebounds (6.0), assists (3.5), and steals (2.4) per game … In a meeting earlier this season the Pioneers rolled over Alfred, defeating them 85-66.
Meet the Soaring Eagles: Elmira (0-22, 0-11 Empire 8) remains winless as they dropped three games this past week to Hamilton, Stevens, and Hartwick … The Soaring Eagles are currently on a 25 game losing streak that dates back to February of last season … Last time out the Pioneers secured an early lead and never looked back, as Utica defeated Elmira 76-69 earlier this season … Elmira's Josh Keys leads the team with an average of 12.9 per-game.
The Final Countdown: The Pioneers will return home the following weekend to host Ithaca College (10-12, 7-4 E8) in its final game of the regular season on Saturday, February 18, 2012 at 4 p.m.
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