UTICA, NY – The Utica College men's basketball team let an eight point lead slip away in the final 4:01 of the contest as visiting Cortland State earned an 87-85 victory over the Pioneers in the season opener for both squads at the Harold T. Clark Athletic Center Gymnasium on Saturday night.  TJ Hefele netted a clutch 3-pointer with 30 seconds left on the game clock to give the Red Dragons an 83-82 lead and he also drilled two free-throws down the stretch to guide Cortland to the win.

Utica's Robert Tutein (Nanuet, NY/Nanuet) netted a game-high 24 points (5-of-10 from 3-point land) as the Pioneers dropped their season opener.  UC's Jawan Simmons (Syracuse, NY/Nottingham) also posted a valiant effort as he netted a career-high 16 points and grabbed six rebounds.

The Pioneers jumped out to an 11 point advantage in the first 11:40 of the contest behind eight points from Tutein to give UC a 26-15 lead with 8:20 to go before the half. The visitors went on a tear to close out the first half, outscoring Utica 25-11 in the final 8:01 of the half to take a 40-37 lead into the locker room at the half.

The Pioneers trailed by as many as seven points 2:12 into the second half before making their second half surge.  UC went on a 31-13 run in the next 9:07 of the contest to take a commanding 72-61 lead with 8:41 to go in the game. 

Utica led by eight points, 79-71, with 4:01 left in the contest before the Red Dragons made their final push.  Cortland made 8-of-10 free throws and two clutch 3-pointers in the final 1:17 of the contest to earn the two point victory. 

Utica freshman classmates Devin Wilkerson (Germany/Apo Armed Forces-Europe) and Seamus McHugh (Latham, NY/Shaker) combined for 17 points in their collegiate debuts.  Ivan Iton (Ossining, NY/Ossining) and Carl Taylor (East Brunswick, NJ/East Brunswick) also each added eight points for Utica. Freshman Stephen Gall (Bronx, NY/Benjamin Banneker) chipped in with six points, as did Mike Cannizzo (Mechanicville, NY/Mechanicville). 

Cortland's Blair Estarfaa had a team-high 23 points, while Justin Cooper added 11 points and seven rebounds.  Zach Lydon and Hefele each posted ten points for the visitors.

The Pioneers return to the hardwood back at home on Tuesday night when they host Morrisville State in non-conference action at 7 p.m.