UTICA, NY – The Utica College men's basketball team hits the road for a pair of Empire 8 Conference weekend games. On Friday, UC takes on Ithaca College at 6 p.m. Saturday Utica is at Nazareth for a 2 p.m. tip-off.
 
Last Time Out: The Pioneers fell at home to visiting Empire 8 opponent Stevens 94-67 last Saturday (2/13/16) … Agim Hamiti (Prishtina, Kosovo/Syracuse Academy of Science) led the team with 10 points while Justin Mayers (Hastings, NY/Hastings on the Hudson) was second on the team, chipping in with nine points.
 
Leading the Way: Hamiti is second on the team in points per game (11.4), third in rebounds (81), and third in assists (30) in 15 games played … Ivan Iton (Ossining, NY/Ossining) leads the team in rebounds (172), is second on the team in assists (37), second on the team in blocks (20), and third on the team in points per game (10.1) … Carl Taylor (East Brunswick, NJ/East Brunswick) is fifth on the team in points per game (7.4) and leads the team in assists (58) while Jawan Simmons (Syracuse, NY/Nottingham), who recently returned from injury, is averaging 9.1 points per game … Mike Cannizzo (Mechanicville, NY/Mechanicville) has scored 18 points in the last two game and is averaging 3.6 points per game for the season.
 
Freshmen Contributors:  Seamus McHugh (Latham, NY/Shaker) is averaging 5.8 points per game and currently has contributed 127 points on the season while Justin Mayers (Hastings, NY/Hastings on the Hudson) is averaging 4.4 points per game and has 88 points on the season … Andrew Druziak (Amsterdam, NY/Amsterdam ) has contributed 54 points (2.6 ppg) over 21 games and has seen increased action as of late, averaging 11.6 minutes per game.
 
Scouting Ithaca: The Bombers are 13-10 overall with a 7-7 Conference record … Ithaca is currently on a two game win streak having beat Empire 8 opponents Houghton (93-88) and Alfred (91-79) … The Bombers are led by Marc Chasin (20.5 points per game, 142 rebounds, 69 assists, 17 steals, and 14 blocks) and Joey Flanagan (16.1 ppg, 65 rebounds, 33 steals, 30 assists, and one block).
 
Against The Bombers: Earlier in the year Utica defeated Ithaca 84-72 at home … UC is 5-6 against Ithaca over the last five years  … In that time Utica is 3-3 at home and 2-3 on the road … Last year Ithaca defeated the Pioneers by scores of 97-90 and 98-85.
 
Scouting Nazareth: The Golden Flyers face Stevens on Friday before taking on Utica … Nazareth is 15-8 overall with a 11-3 Empire 8 record and is currently on a two game win streak over conference opponents Alfred (87-65) and Elmira (77-46) … The Golden Flyers are led by Mitch Ford (22.8 points per game, 269 rebounds, 25 steals, 20 assists, and six blocks) and Tyler Stenglein (14.9 ppg, 95 rebounds, 87 assists, 29 steals, and seven blocks) ... Utica native Maurice Mills is averaging 12.8 points and 9.2 rebounds per game for the Golden Flyers.
 
Against The Golden Flyers: Earlier this year UC fell to Nazareth 79-50 at home … Utica is 2-8 against Nazareth over the last five years not including the loss earlier this season … UC is 1-4 both at home and on the road when facing the Golden Flyers over that time … Last year the Pioneers defeated Nazareth on the road 73-70 while losing at home 67-61.
 
Social Media: Make sure to follow live updates of the game on the Pioneers official Twitter feed: @UCPioneers… If you are at the game and on Twitter, or talking about the game on Twitter, make sure to use #UCMoose… You can also "Like" the Pioneers on Facebook at www.facebook.com/UCpioneers ... Fans can also follow the Pioneers on Instagram: UCPioneers.