HOUGHTON, NY – Sophomore big man Ivan Iton (Ossining, NY/Ossining) netted a career high 24 points and added 12 rebounds but it was not enough as host Houghton College topped Utica College 92-82 on Saturday afternoon.  The Pioneers trailed by just two at the half, but the Highlanders outscored UC 52-44 in the second half to pull away for the victory.

UC (6-14, 3-9 Empire 8) was coming off an emotional 75-74 buzzer beater victory over host Elmira College on Friday night.  Robert Tutein (Nanuet, NY/Nanuet)'s game-winning 3-pointer as time expired on Friday lifted UC to victory and also put the Pioneers in the national spotlight as the replay of the incredible game-winner aired nationally on ESPN in a trio of great basketball buzzer beaters at 9 p.m. that evening. The shot aired again on the highly popular Sports Center Top Ten segments several times on Friday night and early Saturday morning, earning the No. 2 spot in the segment.

Agim Hamiti (Prishtina, Kosovo/Syracuse Academy of Science) finished his day on Saturday with 19 points and 10 rebounds, while Carl Taylor (East Brunswick, NJ/East Brunswick) added 13 points and three assists. Shawn Celestin (Nanuet, NY/Nanuet) registered eight points off the bench, while Andrew Druziak (Amsterdam, NY/Amsterdam ), Mike Cannizzo (Mechanicville, NY/Mechanicville), Justin Mayers (Hastings, NY/Hastings on the Hudson) and Seamus McHugh (Latham, NY/Shaker) each added four points.

Hamiti drilled a 3-pointer 3:31 into the contest to give the Pioneers a six point lead, 12-6, early on in the first half.  The Highlanders answered with a 21-8 run to take a 27-20 lead midway through the first half of play. Houghton maintained its lead for the remainder of the first half, but the Pioneers were able to cut their deficit to two points, 40-38, as the halftime horn sounded.

The home team pushed its lead back out to nine points, 53-44, after Phil Pellegrino made a lay-up at the 14:08 marker of the second half. Houghton kept the pressure up and earned its largest lead of the contest, 74-58, with 6:20 left in regulation. Utica cut its deficit to as few as six points, 88-82, with 56 seconds left, but that was as close as they would get as the Highlanders earned the 10 point win.

Five players scored in double-figures for Houghton (9-11, 4-8 Empire 8), including Johnathan Stowe and Jordan Scott, who netted 18 and 19 points, respectively.

The Pioneers return to the hardwood on Tuesday night when they host St. John Fisher College in conference action at 6 p.m.