Utica, NY - The Utica College men's basketball team dropped its first home game of the season Friday night in a 90-80 loss to the St. John Fisher Cardinals. The Pioneers came from behind and closed two 16-point deficits in this one, but they fell just short of securing their ninth-consecutive win.

Sophomore guard Darius Hopkins (Tampa, FL/Seffner Christian) was the spark plug all night for UC, accounting for 13 points of the Pioneer's 16-point comeback in the second half. The highlight of this contest came with 7:30 left to play, where Hopkins stole the ball and knocked down one of his career-high six 3-pointers to give Utica its first lead of the game, 69-68.

Hopkins culminated the evening with 25 points, four rebounds and four assists, falling just short of his career-high 28 points from his freshman season. The Tampa, Florida native was feeling it from 3-point land, shooting an impressive 6-of-8 from downtown.

Junior center Kimedrick Murphy (Hudson, NY/Hudson) was one rebound away from his third double-double of the season, posting a 12-point, nine-assist statline while swatting the only UC block of the night.

Freshman Brett Talbert (Deer Park, NY/Knox School) was the only other Pioneer to finish in double digits, netting 16 points on the night. Freshman forward Justice Brantley (Catskill, NY/Catskill) added nine points and seven boards in the effort as well.

The Pioneers drop to 12-3 with this loss, and they are set to return to action Saturday at home against the Nazareth Golden Flyers at 2 p.m.