UTICA, NY – With the score knotted at 65-65, SUNY Canton's Romario Fletcher took the ball at the top of the key, drove the lane, and converted the game-winning layup with 3.2 seconds left on the game clock to lift the host Roos to a 67-65 victory over Utica College on Tuesday night. Utica's ensuing inbounds pass was tipped on the entry and stolen by Canton as time expired.
The Pioneers led by six points, 65-59, with 1:59 remaining the contest, but Canton responded with eight unanswered points down the stretch to earn the victory. Utica's
Ivan Iton (Ossining, NY/Ossining) led the Pioneers with his second double-double of the season as he posted 19 points and 11 rebounds on the evening.
The score was tied five times throughout the contest and the lead changed hands six times in the back and forth battle.
Utica's largest lead of the first half came after
Jerome Brabham (Utica, NY/Utica Notre Dame) drilled a 3-pointer to give the Pioneers a 23-16 lead with 8:40 to go before the half. Canton answered with a 21-7 run to close out the half and earned a 37-30 lead as the halftime buzzer sounded.
Utica trailed by nine points early in the second half but used a 30-14 run to take a 63-56 lead with 3:35 remaining. Canton then made its final push to earn the thrilling two point victory.
Utica outscored Canton 35-30 in the second half. Four players scored in double figures including
Ivan Iton (Ossining, NY/Ossining),
Justin Strielkauskas (Waterbury, CT/Holy Cross),
Hunter Remley (Cranford, NJ/Cranford) and
Jerome Brabham (Utica, NY/Utica Notre Dame). Strielkauskas posted a career-high 13 points and added five rebounds. Remley netted 12 points, giving him the third double-digit scoring effort of his young career. He also posted seven rebounds. Brabham added 11 points and a career-high seven rebounds.
Fletcher led Canton with 17 points and 16 rebounds, while Adrian Williams added 16 points. Walt Jeter chipped in with 14 points, six rebounds and four assists for the Roos.
The Pioneers (0-6) return to the hardwood on the road Saturday when they travel to Mount Saint Mary College in Newburgh, NY for a 3 p.m. tip-off.
