ITHACA, NY – The Utica College men's basketball team dropped a 98-85 decision against host Ithaca College in Empire 8 Conference action at Ben Light Gymnasium on Friday night. Utica was led by 16 points each from Robert Tutein (Nanuet, NY/Nanuet) and Conor Maisch (Kingston, NY/John A. Coleman). Senior Chris Jeffers (Albany, NY/Bishop Maginn) added 11 points and seven rebounds for the Pioneers.

Utica has now dropped two in a row as its record moved to 8-12 overall and 4-7 in the Empire 8. Ithaca has now won six of its last seven games as the Bombers improved to 9-9 overall and 6-3 in conference action. 

The Pioneers started hot as they jumped out to a quick 16-8 lead in the first 6:22 of the contest. Utica shot 6-of-9 from the floor in the opening stretch while holding the Bombers to a 3-for-14 effort. Sophomore Agim Hamiti (Prishtina, Kosovo/Syracuse Academy of Science) led the Pioneers early with seven points in the opening stretch and he finished the night with a season-high 14 points. Hamiti is averaging 9.0 points over the course of his last three outings.

Ithaca answered with a quick 11-0 run in a span of 2:42 to take a 19-16 lead midway through the first half. The Pioneers then used an 11-6 run in the next 4:49 to take the lead back, 27-25, with 6:07 left before the half.

Ithaca got hot and went on a 20-6 run to close out the first half as the Bombers earned a 12 point lead, 45-33, at the intermission.  Keefe Gitto and Sam Bevan each recorded six points in the stretch before the half. 

The home team opened up the second half on an 18-10 run to take a 20 points advantage, 63-43, which proved to be its largest lead of the game. 

The Pioneers were able to cut their deficit to 11 points late in the contest but that was as close as they would get as the Bombers closed out the game with a 13 point lead.

Senior point guard Aaron Nevins (Buffalo, NY/Canisius) netted seven points and added six assists before fouling out of the contest.  Griffin Kelly (Watervliet, NY/Watervliet) and Jawan Simmons (Syracuse, NY/Nottingham) combined for nine points and five rebounds for Utica.

Freshman guard Marc Chasin led the Bombers with 31 points as he netted six 3-pointers on the evening. Gitto added 21 points and 11 rebounds for Ithaca. The home team finished the night with 15 3-pointers.

Utica returns to action on Saturday at 4 p.m. when it travels to conference leader St. John Fisher College for an Empire 8 Conference match up.