Utica, NY – The Utica College men's basketball team hosted St. John Fisher on Tuesday, for the first Empire 8 contest this season. The Pioneers lost, 74-65, making their record 5-5 overall and 0-1 in conference.
 
UC held a slight edge early on in the first half, holding a 12-9 lead with 14:09 on the clock. Fisher took the lead with a 12-2 run in the span of 3:44, making the score 21-14. Kobe Lufkin (Argyle, NY/Argyle) scored five quick points for the team, as the game neared the three minute mark, to cut Fisher's lead to just three points. The Cardinals closed the first half on a 10-2 run in the final three minutes, earning a 41-30 lead at the halftime break.
 
St. John Fisher took control of the game early on in the second half, stretching its lead to 21 points in the opening minutes. Defense led to some easy offense for the Pioneers, as they crawled back into the game. Utica went on a 14-2 run in just 3:54, making the score 56-49 with 11:35 left in the game. UC fought back, trailing by just five points in the final minute of regulation, but Fisher held on for the nine point victory.
 
Ivan Iton (Ossining, NY/Ossining) scored a game-high 16 points to go with his eight boards, and four blocks. Carl Taylor (East Brunswick, NJ/East Brunswick) finished with 13 points and seven rebounds, while Joe Stortini (Rhinebeck, NY/RIT) added 11 points. Bennito Ayarza (Brooklyn, NY/Cayuga Community College) recorded nine points, four rebounds, and a game-high four assists.
 
Four players reached double-digits for St. John Fisher, as the team improved to 6-4 overall and 1-0 in the Empire 8. Dylan Harrington led the team with 13 points (6-for-8 FG) off the bench. Tyler English and Jake Haight tallied 11 points each in the contest. Ryan Henderson finished with 10 points and five rebounds.
 
The Pioneers return to action on Friday for more Empire 8 Conference hoops action, as they host Nazareth. The game is scheduled to tip-off at 6 p.m.