Utica, NY – The Utica College men's basketball team lost to visiting SUNY Polytechnic, 63-58, in its home opener on Tuesday at the Clark Athletic Center. Three different players scored in double figures for the Pioneers, including junior transfer Christian Rodriguez (Queens, NY/Cayuga Community College) -- who netted a season-high 12 points -- marking his highest output in a Pioneer uniform. Junior forward Ivan Iton (Ossining, NY/Ossining) added 11 points and a team-high of nine rebounds, while senior Agim Hamiti (Prishtina, Kosovo/Syracuse Academy of Science) also scored 11 points and grabbed six boards.

The Pioneers (0-4) are still in search of their first victory of the season, while the visiting Wildcats rebounded from a season-opening loss and improved to 1-1 on the year.  

SUNY Poly was able to manufacture a nine point lead, 17-8, in the first 9:54 of the first half before the Pioneers used a quick 5-0 run to cut the lead back down to four, 17-13, with 8:33 to go before halftime. SUNY Poly then went on another run of its own to take a 10 point lead with just three minutes left in the half. Two 3-pointers from Utica freshman Hunter Remley (Cranford, NJ/Cranford) cut into the Wildcat lead, and Utica went into halftime trailing by just four, 29-25.

The Pioneers used a 7-3 run to knot the score at 32-32 less than three minutes into the second half, following a free throw from freshman Jerome Brabham (Utica, NY/Utica Notre Dame), who was making his first appearance of the season for UC. SUNY Poly then used on a 12-0 run in less than five minutes, with eight of those points coming from Kevin Williams, to earn a 46-34 lead with 11:19 remaining in regulation.

A pair of threes from Christian Rodriguez (Queens, NY/Cayuga Community College) sparked an 8-0 run for Utica as they fought back to make the score 46-42 with eight minutes left on the game clock. However, SUNY Poly came right back, pushing the lead back up to 10 points heading into the final stretch. Utica made six straight free throws in the final three minutes of the game, but it was not enough to overcome SUNY Poly's five point lead as the final horn sounded.

Hunter Remley (Cranford, NJ/Cranford) and Jerome Brabham (Utica, NY/Utica Notre Dame) both added eight points coming off the bench for the Pioneers. Remley also snagged six rebounds. Utica point guard Bennito Ayarza (Brooklyn, NY/Cayuga Community College) also added eight points, three assists and three steals.

SUNY Poly was led by Quayshaun Mitchell's double-double, as he scored 16 points and grabbed 12 rebounds. Kevin Williams also scored in double-digits for the visiting Wildcats, finishing with 14 points. Josh Gregory came off the bench for SUNY Poly, contributing eight points and eight rebounds.

The Wildcats shot 49.0% from the floor on the afternoon and held the Pioneers to just 28.6% shooting from the floor (18-for-63). Utica also struggled from beyond the arch, converting 5-of-23 3-point attempts on the afternoon.

The Pioneers return home on Sunday as they host Montclair State University after a brief Thanksgiving break. The game is scheduled to start at 1 p.m.