ELMIRA, NY – The Utica College men's basketball team lost to host Elmira College 75-64 in Empire 8 Conference action on Friday night. Utica senior point guard Aaron Nevins (Buffalo, NY/Canisius) netted a game-high 18 points on 7-of-15 shooting from the floor.  Senior forward Chris Jeffers (Albany, NY/Bishop Maginn) added his second double-double of the season as he registered 10 points and 12 rebounds. 

The Pioneers' record moved to 4-9 overall and 0-4 in conference play.  Elmira (4-8, 2-2 Empire 8) was led by 18 points, six assists and four rebounds from Oladapo Badmos.

Utica returns to action on Saturday when it travels to Alfred for an Empire 8 contest at 4 p.m. Freshman Ivan Iton (Ossining, NY/Ossining) chipped in with 12 points on 4-of-5 shooting from the floor.

The Pioneers jumped out to a quick 11-6 lead in the first 4:19 of the contest (5-of-7 shooting from the floor). Agim Hamiti (Prishtina, Kosovo/Syracuse Academy of Science) got off to a quick start for Utica with seven points in the first five minutes of action.

Utica maintained its advantage until the 2:17 marker of the first half after a 17-11 run by the Soaring Eagles.  Elmira added another bucket before the half and took a 35-32 lead into the locker room. 

Elmira used a 24-14 run in the opening 12:15 of the second half to take a 59-50 lead with 6:20 remaining in the contest.  The Soaring Eagles caused five turnovers and shot 9-of-18 in the stretch.  The Pioneers went on a 7-3 run in a span of 2:14 to cut its deficit to just five points with 4:06 remaining but the home team closed out the game on a 13-7 run to earn the 11 point victory. 

The contest featured five ties and three lead changes.  Utica's last lead of the game came at the 18:13 marker of the second half and the Pioneers largest lead of the game was 23-18 at the 8:50 ledger of the first half.  UC out rebounded the Soaring Eagles 32-22 but the Pioneers turned the ball over 18 times in the loss. 

Elmira saw 54 of its 75 points come from bench players.