Utica, NY – The Utica College men's basketball team is on the road Thursday night, for an Empire 8 contest against Hartwick. The game is set to tip-off at 6 p.m.
Last Time Out: The Pioneers defeated Sage on the road in their last matchup, by a score of 79-69.
Ivan Iton (Ossining, NY/Ossining) finished with 14 points and 15 rebounds to earn the double-double.
Avery Coston (Kerhonkson, NY/Rondout Valley) came off the bench to lead UC in scoring, tallying a career-high 16 points.
Carl Taylor (East Brunswick, NJ/East Brunswick) recorded 15 points and four boards, while
Shawn Gashi (Central Square, NY/Bishop Grimes) poured in a career-high 12 points off the bench. The win pushes the team's record to 12-9 overall and 7-5 in conference play.
Finding a Groove: As the season begins to wind down and UC is fighting for a spot in the Empire 8 Tournament, there is no better time for the team to get in a rhythm. The Pioneers have won two in a row now and look to extend their winning streak to three games against Hartwick on Thursday. With just three games remaining after the meeting with Hartwick, Utica looks to take advantage of its momentum and close the regular season out strong.
Scouting Hartwick: The Hawks are sitting at a record of 8-13 and are 5-7 against Empire 8 opponents. The team defeated Elmira in its last contest, with the final score reading 104-81. Brandon LaForest led the way with 21 points (5-for-7 3pt, 6-for-6 FT), six rebounds, and six assists. Kevin Townes posted a double-double, on 18 points and 13 boards. Patrick Garey and Austin Haskell combined for 25 points and 11 rebounds off the bench. Townes leads the Hawks and is ranked fourth in the E8 in scoring, as he averages 17.2 points per game. LaForest is currently second in the conference in assists, averaging five per game.
Against Hartwick: Earlier this season, the Pioneers defeated the Hawks at home, 84-71.
Hunter Remley (Cranford, NJ/Cranford) was feeling it in the game, as he recorded a team-high 23 points on 7-for-12 shooting from the field.
Ivan Iton (Ossining, NY/Ossining) put up a double-double, coming away with 18 points and 11 boards.
Carl Taylor (East Brunswick, NJ/East Brunswick) tallied seven points, seven assists, and 11 rebounds, while teammate
Bennito Ayarza (Brooklyn, NY/Cayuga Community College) poured in 19 points. Hartwick was led by Kevin Townes' game-high of 25 points in the loss. Brandon LaForest registered 19 points and five assists, while Corey Baker added 11 points of his own.
Looking Ahead: The Pioneers return to action on Saturday, as they close out their three-game road trip against Elmira. This Empire 8 matchup is scheduled to begin at 2 p.m.
