Utica, NY -- The Utica College men's basketball team is coming off a 74-37 win on Saturday against Houghton. With just one game remaining on the schedule, UC will finish up the season on Tuesday against Elmira at home. Tip-off is set for 7:30 p.m.
Last Time Out: UC hosted Houghton on Saturday night, winning the game by 37 points. Darius Hopkins (Tampa, FL/Seffner Christian) stepped up big for the Pioneers, scoring 17 points with eight rebounds. Justin Mayers (Hastings, NY/Hastings on the Hudson) celebrated senior night by recording 10 points and 4 rebounds in twenty-four minutes of play.
Coston Is On: Avery Coston (Kerhonkson, NY/Rondout Valley) this season has 283 points and averaging 12.3 on the season. Coston is ranked 15th in scoring in the Empire 8 and eighth in free throw percentage at 75.3% when shooting from the line. He has only been held to single digits twice over the last nine games.
Big Murph: Kimedrick Murphy (Hudson, NY/Hudson) has been a wall for UC this season down low with twenty-seven blocks this season. Murphy's season-high for blocks (6) came during a match up against Sage when he also snagged 14 rebounds.
Scouting Elmira: Elmira sits at seventh in the conference standings with a 7-17 overall record and a 5-10 mark in the E8. Justin Porrett is the top player for the Soaring Eagles, leading the team in scoring, rebounding, assists, and steals. Porrett averages 16.1 points, 5.5 rebounds, and 7.5 assists per game.
Last Time Against Elmira: Earlier this month UC played Elmira on the road and defeated the Soaring Eagles, 82-71. In the first half Elmira outscored Utica by nine points, 35-26. The Pioneers struck back in the second half scoring 56 points, Darius Hopkins (Tampa, FL/Seffner Christian) led UC with fourteen points in the match up. Five other players reached double-figures in the win, including Avery Coston (Kerhonkson, NY/Rondout Valley), Justin Strielkauskas (Waterbury, CT/Holy Cross), Kobe Lufkin (Argyle, NY/Argyle), and Kimedrick Murphy (Hudson, NY/Hudson).
One Last Time: Justin Mayers (Hastings, NY/Hastings on the Hudson), the lone senior on the squad, will be playing his final game in a Pioneer jersey and gets to do it on UC's home court. Mayers, a four year veteran, will lead the team for the last time during Tuesday's matchup with Elmira.
