UTICA, NY  -- The Utica College men's basketball team used an 11-5 run in the final 3:08 of overtime to earn a 93-88 victory over local rival SUNY Polytechnic at the Harold T. Clark Gymansium on Tuesday night.  Utica senior Conor Maisch (Kingston, NY/John A. Coleman) netted seven of the Pioneers' 11 points in the final run to help UC secure the victory. Maisch finished the day with a team-best 28 points (5-of-8 from 3-point), while Chris Jeffers (Albany, NY/Bishop Maginn) added 19 points and 11 rebounds as UC improved to 2-2 on the season. The Pioneers also snapped a three game losing streak in the series against SUNY Poly. 

The Wildcats (0-2) were led by 33 points, 11 assists and seven rebounds from senior guard Maverick Hodge while freshman shooter Ryan McCarthy, from nearby Camden, NY, added 21 points on 5-of-9 shooting from behind the arc.  SUNYIT was 14-for-27 from 3-point range on the day. 

Both teams struggled from the free-throw line as the Pioneers shot 31-for-52 from the charity stripe and SUNY Poly added an 8-for-17 effort.  Five different players fouled out for the Wildcats. 

SUNY led by as many as six points, 60-54, after Blake Haga knocked down a 3-pointer with 7:24 to go in regulation, but the Pioneers answered with a 17-11 run in the next 6:05 to knot the score at 71-71 with 1:19 left on the 2^nd half clock.  UC senior guard Aaron Nevins (Buffalo, NY/Canisius) led the late push for UC with eight points in the stretch.  Nevins finished the evening with 18 points and five rebounds, including a 12-for-15 effort from the free throw line.

On the Wildcats' next possession Thomas Lucas drilled a clutch 3-pointer from the corner to give the visitors a three point lead right back, 74-71, with 1:19 left in regulation. 

Jeffers then made it a one point game after a lay-up with 19 seconds left and the Pioneers trailed 74-73.  SUNY Poly's Lucas made one of two free throws on the Wildcats next possession, leaving the door open for the Pioneers, with the score set at 75-73.

Utica's Aaron Nevins (Buffalo, NY/Canisius) drove the lane on the Pioneers' final possession of regulation and was fouled, sending him to the line for two shots with six seconds to go.  Nevins made both key free throws to send the contest into overtime. 

The Pioneers were a perfect 4-for-4 from the floor and made 9-of-12 free throws in the five minute overtime to earn the five point victory.  Maisch's nine points in OT led all scorers, while Robert Tutein (Nanuet, NY/Nanuet) added four points in the extra frame. Tutein finished the day with 15 points and he was one of four Pioneers to score in double figures. Hodge netted seven points to pace the Wildcats in OT. 

The Pioneers opened up a 19-11 lead in the first 9:24 of the game, behind six points each from Maisch and Jeffers.  SUNYIT answered with a 14-4 run in a span of 6:44 to take a their first lead of the contest, 25-23, with 3:52 to go in the first half of play.  UC closed out the first half on a 9-3 run to take a 32-28 lead into the locker room at the half.

The first 8:14 of the second half was a back and forth battle that featured five ties, until SUNY Poly made its run that led to the six point lead, 60-54, with 7:24 to go.

Utica freshman Ivan Iton (Ossining, NY/Ossining) came off the bench and netted nine points for the Pioneers, while grabbing seven rebounds. 

Blake Haga and Tyler Taverne combined for 19 points on the afternoon for the Wildcats. The score was tied 12 different times in the game and the lead changed hands a total of six times.

Utica returns to the hardwood on Saturday when the Pioneers travel to Hamilton College to take on the Continentals in the Hamilton College Invitational.  The contest is scheduled to begin at 5 p.m.