Box Score

St. John Fisher 79, Utica 69 - Men's Basketball Final

Pittsford, NY (1/25/2013) – The Utica College men's basketball team led 45-38 at halftime, but host St. John Fisher College outscored the Pioneers by 17 points in the second half on its way to a 79-69 victory in Empire 8 Conference play at Manning-Napier Varsity Gymnasium Friday night.  Utica junior Connor Maisch led the Pioneers once again with 18 points and seven rebounds (4-of-6 shooting from 3-point), while sophomore guard Aaron Nevins (Buffalo, NY/Canisius) added 16 points and four assists as Utica dropped to 7-12 overall and 4-5 in Empire 8 Conference play. 

The Cardinals (11-8, 6-4 Empire 8) were led by 19 point efforts from Thad Wier (career-high) and Jason Norsen.  Norsen became the 20th player in Fisher history to score 1,000 points in a career.   The Capital One Academic All-American brought his career total to 1,008.  Norsen, who is already Fisher's all-time leader in blocked shots, added seven rejections and eight boards in the win.  Chaz Lott pitched in with 17 points for the Cardinals. 

Utica led 45-31 with 1:23 left in the half, but Fisher went on a 7-0 to end the half and only trailed by seven at 45-38. The Pioneers shot 64.3% (18-for-28) from the floor in the first half, including 66.7% (6-of-7) from 3-point range.

After finishing the first half strong, Fisher kept it going in the second half.  Utica led 47-40 with 18:44 left, but Fisher went on a 12-0 run over the next six minutes to take the lead its first lead of the game, but more importantly, the lead for good.

Utica made it 59-55 with just over eight minutes left.  The Cardinals, however, went on a 15-4 spurt over the next four minutes, highlighted by three 3-pointers from sophomore Thad Wier. 

After shooting 64.3% from the floor in the first half, Utica shot 21.4% (6-for-28) and was 42.9% for the game.   Fisher shot 45.5% from the floor for the game. 

Matt Baldwin (Gloversville, NY/Gloversville) hit three 3-pointers to account for all nine of his points for Utica. Jeff Ward (Ossining, NY/Ossining High School) added eight points and Marion Lewis (Bronx, NY/Lehman) finished with six. 

The Pioneers return to the hardwood on Saturday afternoon when they travel to Alfred University for an Empire 8 Conference game.  Utica defeated Alfred 86-74 at the Calrk Athletic Center in early January. 

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