Utica, NY – The Utica College men's basketball team will close out a three-game home stand on Tuesday night. The Pioneers play host to Empire 8 opponent Sage, with the game set to tip-off at 6 p.m.
Last Time Out: UC improved to 7-6 overall and 2-2 in E8 play, after defeating Elmira at home by a score of 93-77.
Ivan Iton (Ossining, NY/Ossining) led the way with a career-high 34 points and 13 rebounds, on 11-for-15 shooting from the floor. Freshman
Kobe Lufkin (Argyle, NY/Argyle) went 4-for-6 from beyond the 3-point arc, pouring in 14 points off the bench.
Hunter Remley (Cranford, NJ/Cranford) also reached double-digits, as he finished with 10 points and five rebounds. The Pioneers win their second game in a row, and are now 6-1 at home this season.
Remley Heating Up: Sophomore
Hunter Remley (Cranford, NJ/Cranford) was inserted into the starting lineup for the past three games and his production has increased dramatically. He averaged only four points per game prior to the change, and has since averaged 14.7 points per game. Remley is catching fire at the right time, scoring 10 or more points in three of four Empire 8 conference games played so far. He exploded for 23 points in the team's win over Hartwick, going 7-for-12 from the field and shooting 5-for-8 from long range. Remley looks to build on this momentum against Sage on Tuesday.
Statistical Leaders: Ivan Iton (Ossining, NY/Ossining) leads the team with averages of 16 points, 8.5 rebounds, and two blocks per game. Within the Empire 8, Iton ranks first in blocks, third in rebounding, sixth in scoring, and has the second best field goal percentage of 60.4%.
Bennito Ayarza (Brooklyn, NY/Cayuga Community College) leads the team and is fourth in the E8 in assists, with an average of four per game. Ayarza also owns the top free throw percentage on the team (for those who qualify), 84%, which is good for eighth in the conference.
Conference Standings: Sitting at 7-6 overall and 2-2 in the conference, the Pioneers are holding on to fifth place in the Empire 8. With only four teams advancing to the E8 tournament at the end of the season, UC is currently on the outside looking in. With 12 games remaining on the schedule, the team has plenty of time to earn a top-four position in the standings.
Scouting Sage: The Gators are holding an overall record of 6-6 and are 1-2 in their first season as a member of the Empire 8. The team lost a close game to Stevens in its last contest, falling by a score of 73-72. Kevin Lenehan posted a double-double, tallying 16 points, 12 rebounds, and six blocks. Jordan Devaughn finished with 15 points and seven assists, while teammate Isaiah Scurry scored 16 on 7-for-9 shooting. Scurry leads the team in scoring, averaging 15.3 points per game. Lenehan's averages of 8.3 rebounds and 1.5 blocks per game lead Sage, and rank fifth and second in the conference.
Looking Ahead: The Pioneers will start a four-game road trip on Friday, as they will face Houghton College. This E8 contest is set to tip-off at 6 p.m.
