UTICA, NY – The Utica College men's basketball team lost to visiting Stevens Institute of Technology 80-67 in Empire 8 Conference action on Saturday at the Clark Athletic Center. Utica's Chris Jeffers (Albany, NY/Bishop Maginn) led the way with 16 points while classmate Aaron Nevins (Buffalo, NY/Canisius) added 12 points and four assists.  13 different players scored at least one point for Utica. 

The Pioneers snapped a two game winning streak as their record moved to 8-11 overall and 4-6 in the Empire 8.  Stevens (8-9, 5-4 Empire 8) rebounded from an 18 point road loss at Hartwick on Friday night.  The Ducks were led by five players who scored in double-figures. Kenny Gan led the way with 18 points and 11 rebounds while classmate Patrick Sabatino also posted a double-double with 12 points and 12 rebounds. 

The Ducks shot 52.5% (31-for-59) from the floor on the afternoon while holding UC to a 37.5% (21-of-56) clip.  The Pioneers did knock down 11 3-pointers, including three each from Ian Henderson (Chateaugay, NY/Chateaugay) and Chris Jeffers (Albany, NY/Bishop Maginn).  Henderson finished the night with nine points off the bench. 

Utica opened the contest on a 13-9 run in the first 6:19 to earn an early four point lead.  Stevens responded with a 16-6 run in the next 5:14 to take a 25-19 lead with 8:27 to go in the first half of play. The Ducks shot 7-of-9 from the floor in the stretch. 

The visitors added an 18-5 run before the half and led by as many 16 points, 43-27, with less than a minute to go before the intermission.

Stevens scored the first nine points of the second half to take a 21 point lead at the 15:06 mark. Utica answered with a 17-10 run in the next 5:21 to cut its deficit to 62-48 with 9:45 remaining.  Stevens then put the game away with a 14-3 run in a span of four minutes to earn their largest lead of the contest (25 points), 76-51.

The UC reserves were able to cut that margin to 13 points as the final horn sounded.

Freshman Mike Cannizzo (Mechanicville, NY/Mechanicville) scored four points off the bench in the closing minutes, while Robert Tutein (Nanuet, NY/Nanuet) added eight points for Utica. 

Patrick Barron netted 16 points for Stevens and junior Alex Lorenz came off the bench and posted 12 points on 6-of-9 shooting from the floor.

The Pioneers return to action on the road Friday night when they travel to Ithaca College to take on the Bombers in conference play at 8 p.m.