Utica, NY (1/9/14) – The Utica College men's basketball team will host a pair of Empire 8 Conference home games this weekend against Elmira and Ithaca College. UC takes on Elmira on Friday at 6 p.m. and follows that up with a contest against Ithaca on Saturday at 2 p.m.

Game Coverage: Live video for all home games is available at empire8.tv… Links for live stats for this weekend's contests are available on the Pioneers' schedule page at www.ucpioneers.com.

Social Media: If you can't make it out to the game, make sure to follow live updates on the Pioneers official Twitter feed, @UCPioneers… If you are at the game and on Twitter, or talking about the game on Twitter, make sure to use #letsgoUC… You can also "Like" the Pioneers on Facebook at www.facebook.com/UCpioneers.

Last Game: UC came out of Tuesday afternoon's non-conference home game with a loss to local rival SUNYIT, 95-77… Two Pioneers scored in double figures with senior Chris Jeffers (Albany, NY/Bishop Maginn) leading the team with 16 points and junior Ian Henderson (Chateaugay, NY/Chateaugay) chipped in with 11 points… Jeffers also led the team in rebounds (11), to collect his sixth double-double of the season… As a team, UC went 20-30 (66.7%) at the free throw line.

Empire 8 Team Stats: In the conference, Utica ranks third in points per game averaging 80.2, fourth in field goal percentage (46.7), second in offensive rebounds per game (14.2), and third in defensive rebounds per game (28.2).

Scoring Trio: Three Pioneers are averaging double figures per game… Junior point guard Aaron Nevins (Buffalo, NY/Canisius) leads the team in points per game (19.1), followed by Jeffers (13.3) and junior Marion Lewis (Bronx, NY/Lehman) (11.0).

Empire 8 Individual Stats: Two players are ranked in the top 15th in the conference in scoring… Nevins is second (19.1), while Jeffers is 13th (13.3)… Jeffers leads the E8 with 10.7 rebounds per game, and sits tenth in assists per game (3.2)… Nevins is fourth in the conference in assists (3.2), and sixth in steals per game (1.7)… Junior Marty Felicia (Phoenix, NY/Phoenix) is 10th in rebounds per game (7.1) and his .80 blocked shots per game rank eighth in the league.

Stats against Elmira: The Pioneers won both games against Elmira last season… Winning by 11 the first meeting at home (85-74)… Nevins netted 12 points and four assists... The Pioneers won by 4 points at Elmira the second time (88-84)… Jeffers led the team with 21 point, five rebounds… In the last ten years, UC is 18-2 against Elmira… The last lost was a home game on February 21, 2010 (72-58).

Eagles Report: Elmira is off to a 3-6 start and is 0-2 in the Empire 8… The Soaring Eagles are coming to Utica after losing at home, 59-44, to conference opponent St. John Fisher… They rank second in the conference in free throw percentage (72.7) and third in 3-point field goals made, averaging 7.2 per game… The player to watch out for is junior forward Neil Randolph… Randolph leads the conference in points per game (19.2), and he is second in free throw percentage (90.0), fourth in 3-point field goals per game (2.1), and seventh in field goal percentage (47.6).

Stats against Ithaca: The Pioneers split the series against Ithaca last season… First, losing at home, 89-71 on Jan. 8, with a 13-point effort from Marion Lewis (Bronx, NY/Lehman)… Utica then topped the Bombers in Ithaca on Feb. 15, with a last second three-pointer from Conor Maisch (Kingston, NY/John A. Coleman) for the 69-66 win… In the last ten years, UC is 14-8 against Ithaca.

Bomber Report: Ithaca is off to a 4-7 start and is 0-2 in the Empire 8… The Bombers are coming to Utica after a home win against Houghton College 94-54... The player to watch for is senior Frank Mitchell, who is fourth in the conference in rebounding (9.0 per game) and fifth in scoring (16.1 per game).

Looking Ahead: After hosting three straight home games, UC will travel to conference opponent Nazareth College on Friday January 17th at 6 p.m. in Rochester, NY.


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