PITTSFORD, NY – The Utica College men's basketball team lost to host St. John Fisher College 94-68 in Empire 8 Conference action at Manning & Napier Varsity Gymnasium on Monday night.  Utica's Robert Tutein (Nanuet, NY/Nanuet) netted a game-high 25 points for the Pioneers, while sophomore Ivan Iton (Ossining, NY/Ossining) added 10 points and nine rebounds. 

Utica's record moved to 5-13 overall and 2-8 in the Empire 8, while Fisher remained unbeaten at home and improved to 13-5 overall and 7-2 in the conference. The Cardinals rebounded from a seven point loss at the hands of Stevens on Friday.

The Pioneers will look to snap a four game slide on game two of a three game road trip on Friday night when they travel to Elmira College to take on the Soaring Eagles in Empire 8 play at 6 p.m. UC wraps up its road trip on Saturday when it takes on Houghton at 2 p.m.

Agim Hamiti (Prishtina, Kosovo/Syracuse Academy of Science) chipped in with 11 points for the Pioneers and he also added four assists. Dylan Drexler (Rochester, NY/Greece Olympia) tied his top offensive output in the blue and orange with eight points, while freshman Seamus McHugh (Latham, NY/Shaker) knocked down 2-of-3 3-pointers to finish the night with eight points. 

Utica came out of the gates firing and earned an 8-1 lead in the first 2:28 of the contest.  Fisher responded and took a 28-23 lead with 6:07 left in the first half, but the Pioneers punched back with a 7-1 run to take a one point advantage, 30-29, with 3:56 to go in the half.  However, the Cardinals used a 12-0 run to close out the first half with a 41-30 lead at the intermission.

Fisher steadily increased its lead over the course of the second half and the Cardinals took their first 20+ lead of the contest with 10:28 to go in regulation, 68-46.  The 22 point deficit turned out to be as close as the Pioneers would get down the stretch as the home team went on to earn a 26 point victory. 

Utica finished the evening with a season-high 24 free throws made and they also knocked down ten 3-pointers, including six from leading scorer Rob Tutein.