ONEONTA, NY – The Utica College men's basketball team lost to host Hartwick College 87-72 in Empire 8 Conference action on Tuesday night at Lambros Arena.  Utica's Ivan Iton (Ossining, NY/Ossining) netted 25 points and added a game-high 17 rebounds, while junior classmate Christian Rodriguez (Queens, NY/Cayuga Community College) chipped in with a career-best 16 points.

Utica (6-15, 6-6 Empire 8) looks to snap a two game slide on Friday night at Houghton College when it takes on the Highlanders at 8 p.m. The Pioneers currently sit in fifth place in the Empire 8 Conference standings. Hartwick improved to 15-7 overall and 8-5 in E8 play. 

Utica jumped out to a quick four point lead in the early going, but the host Hawks used a 22-4 run in the next six minutes to take a 24-10 lead with 12:18 remaining in the first half after senior guard Joey Lufkin drilled a 3-pointer. The Pioneers battled back with an 18-7 run in the next 6:25 to cut their deficit to just three points, 31-28, with 5:53 to go before the half. Hartwick closed out the half on a 14-6 run to push its lead back to double digits, 45-34, as the halftime horn sounded.

Hartwick mounted an 18 point advantage, 56-38, with 13:09 remaining in regulation. The Pioneers then fought back with a 17-5 run to cut into the Hawk lead and they made it a six point contest, 61-55, with 8:27 to go. The home team then went on a 16-6 run in the next 5:02 to close out the contest as it took a 16 point lead, 77-61, with 3:25 remaining. Hartwick was able to extend its lead to as many as 18 points before the final horn sounded.

Carl Taylor (East Brunswick, NJ/East Brunswick) posted 10 points and seven rebounds on the afternoon, while Bennito Ayarza (Brooklyn, NY/Cayuga Community College) and Miles McNeill (Rochester, NY/Aquinas) combined for 11 points in the contest for the Pioneers.

Four different Hawks registered double-digits, including point guard Joey Lufkin, who finished with a game-high 26 points. Brandon LaForest added 24 points and seven assists, while Justin Pratt and Jake Sinicki each posted 12 points for the home team.

Utica got 22 total points from its bench play and also earned 16 second chance points. The Pioneers also outscored the Hawks 34-18 in the paint, but the home team knocked down 15 3-pointers in the victory.

Utica wraps up a four game road trip this weekend as it travels to Houghton on Friday (8 p.m.) and Alfred on Saturday (4 p.m.).