Utica, NY - The Utica College men's basketball team was not able to hold its 13 point halftime lead as St. John Fisher College found its rhythm in the second half  to top UC 85-69 on Thursday night. 
 
 
Chris Green (White Plains, NY/Alexander Hamilton) finished as the leading scorer for the Pioneers as he put up 18 points in his 29 minutes. Kobe Lufkin (Argyle, NY/Argyle) added 15 points to the Pioneers total while Avery Coston (Kerhonkson, NY/Rondout Valley) contributed 12. No other player topped double figures in the game for Utica. 
 
 
The Pioneers defense held Fisher to 32.14 percent shooting from the field and 27.27 percent from three in the first half which resulted in a modest 31 points. Utica chalked up 44 first half points thanks to 56.32 percent shooting from the field. The team surged into halftime by outscoring the Cardinals 13-1 over the final three minutes of the half. While it looked as if the Pioneers would carry that momentum over to the second, it was Fisher that came out firing. 
 
 
The Cardinals outscored the Pioneers 54-25 over the final 20 minutes of the game as they turned their poor first half shooting around. Fisher shot 60.61 percent from the field (55.56 percent from three) in the second half while the Pioneers cooled down, shooting 31.03 percent from the field and 26.67 percent from three. UC committed 12 turnovers in the game resulting in 15 points for the Cardinals. 
 
 
Daniel Cook put up 36 points in 33 minutes of play for Fisher including 16 of his points coming from the free throw line. Brendan Trapper, the E8 leading scorer heading into the game, was held to two points. 
 
 
UC (3-1, 3-1 E8) will have Friday off before Houghton College (1-4, 1-4 E8) comes to town on Saturday for a 1 p.m. tipoff time.