Utica, NY – The Utica College men's basketball team is on the road Sunday for a non-conference contest. The game is scheduled to tip-off at 2 p.m.
 
Last Time Out: The Pioneers defeated SUNY Poly, 94-83, in their home opener right before the Thanksgiving Break. Avery Coston's (Kerhonkson, NY/Rondout Valley) 18 points led the way, while junior Justin Strielkauskas (Waterbury, CT/Holy Cross) notched a double-double on 11 points and 11 boards. Shawn Gashi (Central Square, NY/Bishop Grimes), Hunter Remley (Cranford, NJ/Cranford), Kobe Lufkin (Argyle, NY/Argyle), and Darius Hopkins (Tampa, FL/Seffner Christian) all put up at least 10 points, giving UC six double-digit scorers in the win.
 
Hot Start: UC is starting the season strong, going 3-0 in the first three games. This marks the best start for the program since Head Coach Sean Coffey took over in 2016, and the first time this team has started the year 3-0 since the 2010-2011 season. Utica is averaging 81.3 points per game, which is nearly 10 points higher than last season's average of 72.6 points per game.
 
Free Throws: Through the first few games of the year Utica has been aggressive offensively and it has directly led to consistent trips to the charity stripe. Heading into the game with Cazenovia, UC is shooting 70% from the line as a team (56-for-80). In the final two minutes of play in the win over SUNY Poly, the team went 12-for-12 at the foul line to close the deal. Tyler Jollie (Marlboro, NY/Marlboro) is a perfect 12-for-12 at the line individually, while De'andrae McFarlane (Elizabeth, NJ/Union), Hunter Remley (Cranford, NJ/Cranford), Jake Kulakowski (Brewerton, NY/Central Square) and Shawn Gashi (Central Square, NY/Bishop Grimes) are all shooting above 70% from the free throw line.
 
Everyone Gets a Turn: Three games into the season, UC has four players that are averaging at least 10 points per game thus far, including Darius Hopkins (Tampa, FL/Seffner Christian) (16.7 ppg), Shawn Gashi (Central Square, NY/Bishop Grimes) (15 ppg), Avery Coston (Kerhonkson, NY/Rondout Valley) (13 ppg), and Kobe Lufkin (Argyle, NY/Argyle) (10 ppg). Seven different players have reached double figures in a game, as the team's balanced scoring is a big part of its 3-0 start. Justin Strielkauskas (Waterbury, CT/Holy Cross), Hunter Remley (Cranford, NJ/Cranford), and Tyler Jollie (Marlboro, NY/Marlboro) have each turned in double-digit scoring performances early in the season.
 
Scouting Cazenovia: The Cazenovia Wildcats are holding onto a 1-2 record heading into Sunday's matchup, as the team has lost two in a row after winning its home opener. Although Cazenovia currently has a losing record, all of its games have been decided by six points or less. Most recently the Wildcats fell, 77-73, to Hiram College. Will Cutler finished just shy of a double-double for Caz, with nine points and 10 rebounds. Teammates Jaceary Menes, Raishun Richerdson, and Majesty Wilder all put up 15 points in the loss. Menes is averaging 16.7 points per game to lead the team, although there are five other players currently averaging over 10 points a game.
 
Looking Ahead: The Pioneers return home for Tuesday's matchup with Hamilton College. The game will begin at 7 p.m.