ROCHESTER, NY – Senior Conor Maisch (Kingston, NY/John A. Coleman) of the Utica College men's basketball team set a new school-record and tied the University of Rochester's Palestra Gymnasium record with nine 3-pointers as the Pioneers topped New Paltz 84-72 in the first round of the Chuck Resler Tournament on Friday afternoon. Maisch finished the day with a game-high 29 points (9-of-15 from 3-point), while three other Pioneers scored in double-figures including Robert Tutein (Nanuet, NY/Nanuet) (17), Ivan Iton (Ossining, NY/Ossining) (15) and Aaron Nevins (Buffalo, NY/Canisius) (14).

Nevins was one assist and three rebounds shy of a triple double after posting 14 points, nine assists and seven rebounds.  Iton, a freshman, scored nine of his career-high 15 points at the free throw line. 

Maisch broke the previous school-record of eight 3-pointers set back on January 25, 1992 by Utica's Keith Wick against Elmira College.

The Pioneers are now 1-1 overall and they return to the hardwood on Saturday night at 6 p.m. when they take on the winner of the other 1^st round matchup between Gordon and host University of Rochester.

As a team the Pioneers connected on 15-of-28 3-pointers, including five from Tutein.  The Pioneers largest lead of the contest was 20 points, 84-64, with 1:59 remaining and after the Pioneers took the lead at the 10:31 mark of the first half they never surrendered it again.

Trailing, by two, 15-13, at the 10:56 marker of the first half, the Pioneers used a 13-5 run in a span of 3:37 to take a 29-20 lead that they would not relinquish. Tutein and Maisch both knocked down two 3-pointers each and Iton added four points in the stretch.

The Pioneers extended their lead to as many as 15, 45-30, with 1:53 to go in the first half. New Paltz was able to decrease their deficit to eight points before the halftime horn sounded and the Pioneers headed into the locker room with a 47-39 advantage. 

New Paltz cut the UC lead to five points, 50-45 less than three minutes into the second half, but the Pioneers used a 19-8 run in a span of 7:36 midway through the second half to take a commanding 69-53 advantage with 9:33 remaining in regulation.

The Pioneers shot 50% from 3-point land and 80% from the free throw line in the second half to secure the victory. 

Utica's Chris Jeffers (Albany, NY/Bishop Maginn) added four points and eight rebounds for the Pioneers.

New Paltz (0-3) was led by 23 points and eight rebounds from Taylor Sowah, while teammate R.J. Rosa chipped in with 17 points.