BOX SCORE

Utica, N.Y. (11/22/2010) – The Utica College men's basketball team improved its record to 3-0 after an 80-72 win over non conference foe Oneonta State Monday night. After falling behind by as many as 14 points early in the contest, the Pioneers held the visitors to less than 30% shooting from the floor in the second half, and shot 68% (17-of-25) on the offensive end in the final 20 minutes to earn the eight point victory.

Senior guard James Patterson scored a team-high 17 points and added five assists, while fellow guard Kevin Johnson, who nailed several key shots down the stretch, scored 14 points and dished out nine assists. Sophomore big man Jeff Ward totaled 15 points and snagged ten rebounds for his second straight double-digit rebounding effort.

The Red Dragons (0-3) used a 10-0 run in a span of 2:28 mid-way through the first half to open up a 14 point lead with just over seven minutes to go in the first half. Six first half 3-pointers, including four from Brian Hooks, helped Oneonta jump out to the convincing lead.

Johnson and Patterson hooked up for three straight 3-pointers and Ward made a lay-up to spark an 11-2 run in the final 3:15 of the first half to cut the Oneonta lead to just five points, 40-35, before the half.

The first 9:01 of the second half featured seven lead changes and four ties before the Pioneers were able to take the lead for good. Oneonta was only able to convert on two field goals in the final ten minutes of the contest as the Pioneers sealed the victory. The Dragons did however make 12 free throws in that span to keep the game close. Oneonta cut the lead to as few as two points with 4:46 to go, but Johnson answered with two key mid range jumpers to keep the Red Dragons at bay.

Junior forward Almir Gredelj scored nine points and grabbed ten rebounds for Utica, while Robert Whyte and Will Abrams combined for 15 points and six rebounds.

Hooks led the way for Oneonta with 20 points on 5-of-11 shooting from 3-point land. Center Derek Hahn scored 15 points and grabbed eight rebounds, while Troy Talbot scored 13 points, registered eight rebounds and tallied seven assists.

Utica, which lost to Oneonta 66-52 last season, returns to the hardwood on Dec. 1 when it travels to local rival Hamilton College for a non conference contest at 7 p.m.

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