Utica, NY – The Utica College men's basketball team will host Houghton College on Saturday for an Empire 8 conference matchup. The game is scheduled to start at 4 p.m.
 
Last Time Out: In the last contest for UC, the team fell to E8 opponent St. John Fisher College, 72-68. The Pioneers were down 18 points in the first half, but did not stop battling. Utica cut the St. John Fisher lead to just two points late in the second half after freshman Miles McNeill (Rochester, NY/Aquinas) scored 13 straight points. Bennito Ayarza (Brooklyn, NY/Cayuga Community College) hit a 3-point shot with eight seconds left in the game to give UC a chance, but Fisher was able to seal the game with free throws. McNeill finished with a career-high of 17 points, while Ayarza led the team with a season-high of 18 points. The Pioneers record dropped to 3-12 overall and 3-3 in Empire 8 play.
 
Explosive Scoring: Over the past five games for the Pioneers, there have been multiple top notch scoring performances. In the team's win against Hartwick, Hunter Remley (Cranford, NJ/Cranford) went off to earn his career-high of 27 points on 11-for-17 shooting. Against Nazareth College, Ivan Iton (Ossining, NY/Ossining) finished with a career-high of 30 points shooting 12-for-17 from the field. Carl Taylor (East Brunswick, NJ/East Brunswick) recorded his career-high of 27 points to help the team defeat Elmira, going 7-for-7 from the field and 13-for14 at the free throw line. In the game against St. John Fisher, Miles McNeill (Rochester, NY/Aquinas) reached a new career-high of 17 points. McNeill scored 15 of his 17 points in the second half and went on a tear scoring 13 straight points for the Pioneers. He shot 6-for-8 from the field and made two 3-point baskets in the game. The ball has been able to find the hot hand and has elevated the team's level of play.
 
Statistical Leaders: Ivan Iton (Ossining, NY/Ossining) currently leads the team in scoring, rebounding, and blocked shots. Iton averages 15.9 points, 9.2 boards, and 1.8 blocks per game. In the Empire 8 rankings he is ninth in scoring, third in rebounding, and first in blocks. Bennito Ayarza (Brooklyn, NY/Cayuga Community College) leads the team in assists with 3.3 per game and in steals with 1.9 per game. Ayarza ranks ninth in the conference in assists per game and is second in steals.
 
Scouting Houghton: The Houghton Highlanders sit at a record of 7-7 overall and are 2-3 in conference play. The Highlanders defeated Elmira in their last contest by a score of 84-73. In the game, Dylan Lambert scored 34 points on 14-for-20 shooting. Lambert is the team's leading scorer as he averages 19.1 points per game which is ranked third in the Empire 8. Johnathan Stowe leads the conference in rebounding as he averages 10 boards a game to go with his 13.8 points per game.
 
Against Houghton: UC last defeated Houghton during the 2014-2015 season. Ivan Iton (Ossining, NY/Ossining) scored nine points and grabbed five rebounds in the game, as Utica won 87-80. In the last meeting between these two Empire 8 teams, Houghton came away with the 92-82 victory. Iton recorded a double-double in that contest, finishing with 24 points and 12 rebounds. Carl Taylor (East Brunswick, NJ/East Brunswick) added 12 points of his own and had three assists in the game.
 
Looking Ahead: The next matchup for the Pioneers will be on the road against Ithaca College on January 26^th. This Empire 8 contest is scheduled to begin at 8 p.m.