Utica 85, #20 Ithaca 81 - Box Score
Utica, N.Y. (1/11/2011) – Senior swingman Will Abrams scored a career-high 31 points as the Utica College men's basketball team defeated nationally-ranked No. 20 Ithaca College 85-81 in Empire 8 Conference action Tuesday night. The Pioneers shot 54.8 percent from the floor en route to snapping a four game losing streak as they improved to 7-5 overall on the year.
Utica snapped Ithaca's nine game winning streak and handed the Bombers (11-3, 4-1 E8) their first conference loss of the season. Headed into the contest Ithaca had scored over 100 points in each of its last three victories over Franklin & Marshall, Alfred and St. John Fisher.
The Pioneers jumped out to an eight point lead, 19-11, over the course of the first 7:10 of the contest behind six points each from Jeff Ward and Robert Whyte. Almir Gredelj added four early points and Abrams knocked down one of his team-high four 3-pointers to give the home team the early advantage.
Utica extended its lead to a game-high 11 points, 31-20, at the 7:13 mark when Alex Meyer netted his only bucket of the contest. The nationally-ranked Bombers answered with a 9-0 run in a span of 2:22 to cut the Utica lead to just two points, 31-29, with 4:51 to go in the first half. Abrams and Whyte teamed up to spark another Utica run which gave the Pioneers an eight point advantage with just under three minutes to go in the first half. The Pioneers were able to hang onto the lead for the remainder of the half and took a 42-35 advantage into the locker room. UC's bench scored 16 first half points and the Pioneers dominated play in the paint, outscoring the Bombers 28-12 in that category.
The second half was a back and forth battle, featuring eight lead changes. Ithaca cut into the Utica lead and knotted the score at 56-56 with 12:20 to go in the game after Chris Cruz-Rivas converted a three point play. UC then went on a 15-9 run in a span of 3:52 to take a five point lead, 74-69, with 6:11 to go in the contest. However, the Bombers would not go down easy as they immediately knocked down three straight 3-pointers to take a one point lead with 5:04 to go.
Robert Whyte hit two free throws with 3:41 to give the Pioneers the lead for good. Ithaca was able to cut the lead to just one point on two occasions down the stretch, but Whyte came up big once again, grabbing an offensive rebound and converting two free throws with four seconds to go to secure the four point victory. Whyte finished the day with 18 points off the bench.
UC's James Patterson chipped in with 11 points and seven assists, while sophomore big man Jeff Ward added seven points and ten rebounds. Kevin Johnson and Almir Gredelj each totaled six points for UC.
Ithaca shot 44.1 percent (15-of-34) from behind the arc on the evening and four different players scored in double-figures. Jordan Marcus led the way for Ithaca with 27 points (seven 3-pointers), while Rivas-Cruz totaled 17. Andrei Oztemel scored 13 points and Phil Barera added 12 points and seven rebounds. Point guard Sean Rossi dished out a game-high 13 assists for the visitors.
The Pioneers return to the hardwood Friday as they travel to Rochester, NY to challenge Rochester Institute of Technology. Tip-off is scheduled for 8 p.m. The Tigers currently have an overall record of 6-7, including a 3-1 mark in Empire 8 play.
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