Rochester, NY – The Utica College men's basketball team was on the road Friday night, matching up against Nazareth College. UC pulled away with the 59-56 victory, improving to 10-7 overall and 5-3 in Empire 8 play.
 
Neither team could gain an advantage in the beginning of the first half, as the scored was tied at 12-2 with 9:23 on the clock. The Pioneers would hit four shots from long range in the final 3:03 of the half, including two consecutives 3-point baskets from freshman Avery Coston (Kerhonkson, NY/Rondout Valley). UC entered halftime holding a 30-21 lead. Ivan Iton (Ossining, NY/Ossining) posted a double-double in the opening half of play, tallying 11 points and 11 rebounds.
 
The Golden Flyers came in hot after the mid-game break, going on a 11-1 run in just 2:54 to tie the game at 31 apiece. Utica answered with a 9-0 run of their own in the span of 1:20 to take a nine-point lead. Good shooting at the free throw line from Nazareth's Tyler Stenglein, caught the team up and gave Naz a 45-42 lead with 9:03 left in regulation. Carl Taylor (East Brunswick, NJ/East Brunswick) converted a clutch 3-point play and then followed it up with another quick layup to give UC a 57-53 lead with just 1:20 on the clock. Despite a late 3-point shot by Nazareth, the Pioneers came away with the three-point victory on the road.
 
Ivan Iton (Ossining, NY/Ossining) led the way with 22 points and 15 rebounds, posting his sixth double-double of the season. Carl Taylor (East Brunswick, NJ/East Brunswick) recorded 11 points and five boards, while Hunter Remley (Cranford, NJ/Cranford) poured in 8 points on 2-for-3 shooting from beyond the 3-point arc. Bennito Ayarza (Brooklyn, NY/Cayuga Community College) contributed with five assists and seven rebounds, while also hitting two clutch free throws down the stretch.
 
Tyler Stenglein scored a game-high 23 points for the Golden Flyers, as the team drops to 11-6 overall and 6-2 in E8 competition. Jake Burgio snagged a game-high 16 rebounds in the contest. Daniel Jacob added eight points for the team coming off the bench.
 
The Pioneers are back in action on Saturday, as they face St. John Fisher on the road. The game is scheduled to tip-off at 2 p.m.