ITHACA, NY – The Utica College men's basketball team held host Ithaca College to just 20 points in the second half on its way to a convincing 73-53 victory in Empire 8 Conference action on Thursday night. Ithaca headed into the contest averaging 83.3 points per contest.

Utica junior guard Carl Taylor (East Brunswick, NJ/East Brunswick) posted 18 points, 11 rebounds, five assists and two steals. He has now scored in double digits in four of his last five outings and he has also led Utica in steals and assists in each of the last two games. He has averaged 18.4 points over the last five contests.

Junior forward Ivan Iton (Ossining, NY/Ossining) posted 20 points and grabbed nine rebounds to go along with five blocks.  He is now averaging a conference best 2.0 blocks per contest.

The Pioneers (5-12 overall) improved to 5-3 through the first half of their Empire 8 Conference schedule. UC's five wins in conference play rank third in the Empire 8 and they have now eclipsed their conference win total from last season (four).  The Pioneers have also won five of their last seven outings. The last time Utica was 5-3 through eight conference games was back in 2009.

Ithaca's record moved to 6-11 overall and 2-6 in Empire 8 play. Joey Flanagan led the Bombers with 14 points and four steals on the afternoon.

Utica fell into an early 7-2 hole, but battled back with a 25-13 run to take a seven point lead, 27-20, with 7:44 remaining in the first half of play. The Bombers stood strong and decreased their deficit to as few as three points, 36-33, as the halftime horn sounded.

IC tied the game at 36-36 early in the second half, but the Pioneer responded with a 13-4 run in the next six minutes to earn a 49-40 advantage with 13:47 remaining in regulation. The Pioneers continued to pile it on and pushed its lead to as many as 24 points, 70-46, after a 21-6 run in the next 11:14 of play. UC held the Bombers scoreless in a span of 6:36 down the stretch to earn the key conference victory.

The Utica defense held the Bombers to just 26.5% from the floor in the second half, including 15.4% from behind the arc. UC shot 43.3% from the floor in the second half to pull away.

Junior point guard Bennito Ayarza (Brooklyn, NY/Cayuga Community College) finished the night with 11 points, while freshman Hunter Remley (Cranford, NJ/Cranford) added eight points of his own. Freshman Justin Strielkauskas (Waterbury, CT/Holy Cross) chipped in with six points and classmate Tyler Jollie (Marlboro, NY/Marlboro) also netted six points, grabbed eight rebounds and dished out three assists.   

The Pioneers return to the hardwood on Saturday when they travel to Stevens Institute of Technology to take on the Ducks in Empire 8 play at 4 p.m.