UTICA, NY – The Utica College men's basketball team defeated Empire 8 Conference opponent Elmira 76-66 on Friday night at the Harold T. Clark Athletic Center Gymnasium. Robert Tutein (Nanuet, NY/Nanuet) scored a game-high 21 points, while Agim Hamiti (Prishtina, Kosovo/Syracuse Academy of Science) matched that with 21 points of his own.
 
The Pioneers improved their record to 4-8 overall and notched their first conference win, improving to 1-3 in E8 action. Utica returns to the court Saturday at 3 p.m. as Empire 8 opponent Houghton comes to town. Elmira's record fell to 2-12 overall and 0-5 in conference play.
 
The Soaring Eagles had four players with double-digit scoring and were led by Justin Porrett who had 14 points. Gino Leonardi and Connor Bays each chipped in 12 points for Elmira.
 
Utica jumped out to a 10-0 lead in the first five minutes of play before Elmira went on a 10-0 run of its own over the next three minutes to tie the game. Utica would take a 10 point lead into the half 40-30. Utica went on a 27-18 run to start the second half and extended the lead to 19 with four minutes left in the game after Hamiti drilled a corner 3-pointer. Elmira would finish the game with on a 18-9 run, but it was not enough as the Pioneers came away with the 10 point win.
 
Sophomore Ivan Iton (Ossining, NY/Ossining) led the team with six rebounds and added 15 points, while Shawn Celestin (Nanuet, NY/Nanuet) chipped in 11 points for UC in his first game of the season. Iton has now scored in double-figures in each of his last five starts and raised his scoring average to 10.1 points per game this season.

Utica shot 10-of-19 from behind the arc, including five 3-pointers by Hamiti. The Pioneers shot 50% from the floor overall on the afternoon. 17 of the Pioneers' points came off of 13 Elmira turnovers.