Box Score UTICA, NY (December 1, 2013) – Four different players scored in double figures for the Utica College men's basketball team but it was not enough as host SUNYIT pulled away in the second half to earn a 90-80 victory in non-conference action Sunday afternoon.

The Pioneers' record dropped to 2-3 overall on the year and they will return to action on Wednesday night for their regular season home opener at the Harold T. Clark Athletic Center Gymnasium against SUNY Canton. The contest is scheduled to begin at 6 p.m.

UC was led by junior point guard Aaron Nevins (Buffalo, NY/Canisius) who tallied a team-best 21 points on 7-of-12 shooting from the floor (3-of-4 from 3-point). Senior forward Chris Jeffers (Albany, NY/Bishop Maginn) added 18 points and eight rebounds, while classmate Rich Smith (Albany, NY/La Salle Institute) chipped in with 11 points, by shooting 3-for-3 from behind the arc. The Pioneers totaled ten 3-pointers on the day.

Big man Marty Felicia (Phoenix, NY/Phoenix) also added 10 points (5-of-6 shooting) and five rebounds. Agim Hamiti (Prishtina, Kosovo/Syracuse Academy of Science) started for UC and netted six points and grabbed two steals, while Ian Henderson (Chateaugay, NY/Chateaugay) also chipped in with six points off the bench for Utica.

The Pioneers largest lead of the game was early in the contest as they led by six points at the 17:22 ledger. UC managed to force eight lead changes over the course of the contest, with their final lead coming with 12:42 in the second half, 54-53, after a bucket from Jeffers.

SUNYIT used an 8-2 run in a span of just over two minutes midway through the second half to take a 69-61 lead with 8:07 remaining. UC trailed by just six points, 82-76, with 2:44 remaining but the host Wildcats pulled together a 6-0 run in a span of 1:14 to take a convincing 88-76 lead with 1:30 left in regulation.

The Wildcats improved to 2-0 overall on the year and they were led by Maverick Hodge and Alexander Drake who scored 23 points and 20 points, respectively.

UC scored 23 of its points off of turnovers and 36 of their 80 points came in the paint. The Pioneers also shot 50.8 % (32-of-63) from the field.