Utica, NY -- The Utica College men's basketball team is on the road Tuesday to faceoff against SUNY Canton.  Game time is scheduled for 7 p.m.
 
Last Time Out: The Pioneers lost their last game at home against Misericordia last Friday. Utica freshman Hunter Remley (Cranford, NJ/Cranford) led the team in scoring, as he recorded a career-high of 20 points in the game. Agim Hamiti (Prishtina, Kosovo/Syracuse Academy of Science) provided a strong outing coming off the bench with a season-high of 16 points and seven rebounds. The Pioneers are still searching for their first win of the season as they now have a 0-6 overall record.
 
Pioneers Top Performing Players: Ivan Iton (Ossining, NY/Ossining) leads the team in scoring and rebounding so far this season averaging 16.7 points and 8.5 rebounds per game. Iton currently is ranked seventh in the Empire 8 in scoring and fifth in rebounding. Remley has made a team-high 11 three pointers this season, as he is shooting 50% from 3-point territory and is averaging eight points per game. Junior Bennito Ayarza (Brooklyn, NY/Cayuga Community College) leads the team and Empire 8 Conference in steals with 2.5 per game. Ayarza is currently ranked sixth in the conference in assists per game with 4.2.  

Contributing Freshmen: Jerome Brabham (Utica, NY/Utica Notre Dame) recorded a career-high 13 points, four assists and four rebounds in just his second career start against Misericordia. Brabham is currently third on the team in scoring, as he averages 8.3 points per game. Jake Kulakowski (Brewerton, NY/Central Square) recorded his first collegiate points and rebounds in the game, as he had two points and six boards against Misericordia. Justin Strielkauskas (Waterbury, CT/Holy Cross) has received the start in the last two games for the Pioneers. Since earning the starting role, Strielkauskas has averaged four points and six rebounds per game.
 
Pioneer's Ranking in the Empire 8: Despite having a record of 0-6, Utica has the second best turnover margin (.83 margin) in the Empire 8. UC's 13.7 offensive rebounds per game is ranked third in the Empire 8. The team also has the third ranked defense in the conference, giving up just 73.2 points per game.  The Pioneers currently lead the conference in blocked shots, as they average 4.5 blocked shots per game.
 
Scouting SUNY Canton: The Kangaroos are 3-3 overall after coming off of a road win against Sage College, 77-74, last Saturday. Senior Romario Fletcher recorded a career-high 31 points and 15 boards for his fourth straight double-double. Fletcher currently averages 22.5 points per game, and leads the team with 10.2 rebounds per game. Sam Annorh is Canton's leading scorer and playmaker as he averages 23 points and 5.8 assists per game. The team averages 82 points per game and is currently shooting 44.4% from the field.
 
Against the Kangaroos: The Pioneers are 2-2 against SUNY Canton in the past four seasons. Their last victory against the Kangaroos came at home on Dec. 4, 2013. Aaron Nevins netted a career-high of 32 points to help Utica get past the Kangaroos 103-86. In last year's matchup (Dec. 1, 2015), the Pioneers lost at home to the Kangaroos 79-58. Utica outscored SUNY Canton 34-33 in the second half, but that effort was not enough to erase a 22-point deficit from the first half. 

Broadcasting Information: SUNY Canton will be providing lives video and live stats for Tuesday's game. Links to the live feeds can be found on the Utica College Men's Basketball Schedule webpage.
 
Looking Ahead: The Pioneers return to action on Saturday, as they will travel to play Mount Saint Mary College.  Game time is scheduled for 3 p.m.