HOBOKEN, NJ – The Utica College men's basketball team lost to host Stevens Institute of Technology 96-62 in Empire 8 Conference action on Thursday night.  Utica's Robert Tutein (Nanuet, NY/Nanuet) led the Pioneers with 14 points, three blocks and two steals, while Ivan Iton (Ossining, NY/Ossining) added 12 points and six rebounds. Freshman Seamus McHugh (Latham, NY/Shaker) finished the night one point shy of his career-high, with 11 points.

Utica's record fell to 3-7 overall and 0-2 in the Empire 8.  The Pioneers return to the hardwood at home on Tuesday night when they take on Hartwick College in conference play at 6 p.m. Stevens improved to 6-5 overall and 2-1 in the conference.

Six different players scored in double figures for the host Ducks.  Kevin Zychowski netted a game-high 20 points, while Ryan Coffey added 14 points and eight rebounds. 

With the Pioneers trailing by just two, 21-19, with 8:11 to go in the first half, the Ducks went on a 20-2 run in a span of 5:21 to take their first 20 point lead of the contest, 41-21.

UC cut its deficit to 16 points early in the second half, but that was as close as the Pioneers would get as Stevens kept the pressure on for the remainder of the second half and earned the 34 point victory.

Utica's Carl Taylor (East Brunswick, NJ/East Brunswick) hauled in a team-best 10 rebounds and pitched in with four points, while Andrew Druziak (Amsterdam, NY/Amsterdam ) added five points.