DALLAS, PA – The Utica College men's basketball team outscored host Misericordia University 41-38 in the second half but it was not enough to overcome a 15 point half time deficit has the Pioneers lost 81-69 on the road Monday night.  Utica's Robert Tutein (Nanuet, NY/Nanuet) led the Pioneers with 24 points and six rebounds while sophomore Carl Taylor (East Brunswick, NJ/East Brunswick) added 11 points, ten rebounds, seven assists and two steals.

Utica returns to action on the road Thursday when they travel to nearby Colgate University to take on the Division I Raiders in an exhibition contest at 7 p.m.

Misericordia used a 28-13 run in the final 11:30 of the first half to take a 43-28 lead into the locker room as the halftime horn sounded.

The Cougars extended their lead to as many as 20 points in the opening minute of the second half.  The Pioneers then when on a 19-9 run in a span of 6:27 to cut their deficit to 10 points, 57-47, with 12:33 to go in regulation. UC trimmed the score to seven points, 64-57, with 7:41 to go in the contest, but the Cougars pushed their lead back to double-digits with 4:14 remaining and held the advantage down the stretch to earn the 12 point victory.

Freshman Seamus McHugh (Latham, NY/Shaker) knocked down three 3-pointers and finished with nine points while senior Jawan Simmons (Syracuse, NY/Nottingham) added 11 points and 10 rebounds. Sophomore Ivan Iton (Ossining, NY/Ossining) added six points and four rebounds, while freshman Jonathan Wilson (Rochester, NY/Greece Arcadia) scored five points and added four rebounds.

Jason Kenny led the home team with 24 points, while Griffin Sponaugle added 21 points and six rebounds.  James Hawk also chipped in with 14 points and a game-high 13 rebounds.