Utica 82, Clarkson 79 - Box Score

Hamburg, NY (11/18/2011) - After trailing by eight points with 46 seconds left in regulation, junior guard Matt Baldwin netted the game's final 11 points to guide the Utica College men's basketball team to an incredible 82-79 win over Clarkson in the semi-final game of the Hilbert College Tip-Off Tournament Friday night.  Baldwin, who finished the day with a game-high 28 points, knocked down six free throws, one 3-pointer and made one lay up in the final 46 seconds to help lift the Pioneers (1-1) to their first victory of the season. 

The Pioneers will now square off against host Hilbert, which beat Keuka convincingly (94-67), in the finals of the tip-off tournament on Saturday at 4 p.m.

Freshman point guard Aaron Nevins netted a career-high 14 points and added six rebounds, five steals and four assists for UC, while senior George Schultz added ten points and five rebounds. 

The Pioneers jumped out to a 20-11 lead over the course of the first ten minutes of the contest behind a balanced scoring attack from seven different players.  Clarkson responded with a 14-3 run in a span of less than five minutes to take its first lead of the contest, 25-24, with 5:25 to go in the first half of play. 

The lead would change four times in the final five minutes of the first half and the Golden Knights took a two point lead, 34-32, into the locker room at halftime. 

UC went on an 11-4 run to open up the second half as it took a five point lead, 43-38, less than four minutes in. Clarkson responded with a 10-0 run in just over a minute and took the lead right back, 48-43.  The next ten minutes featured four more lead changes until Clarkson exploded for what appeared to be the game-winning run.  The Golden Knights used an 11-2 push to take a convincing nine point advantage, 75-66, with less than three minutes to go in the contest. 

Clarkson maintained an eight point lead with under a minute to go and that's when Baldwin turned it on to provide the Pioneers with the late come back.  Clarkson missed three straight free throws, two straight shots, and once Baldwin tied the contest after a lay-up with 18 seconds to go, the Golden Knights were hit with a bench technical to put Baldwin on the line, where he sealed the Pioneer victory.

Sophomore two-sport star Chris Jeffers came off the bench and grabbed ten rebounds while pouring in eight points in his debut with the basketball team. Junior Jeff Ward added seven rebounds and six points, while senior Reggie German ripped down six rebounds and turned in five points. 

Jerry Coleman and John Coleman each posted big games for the Golden Knights.   Jerry Coleman netted a team-best 27 points, while  John Coleman added 12 rebounds and 11 points. 

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