Utica, N.Y. (2/18/2011) – Senior point guard James Patterson made his final game on the hardwood at the Clark Athletic Center a memorable one as her nailed the game-winning 3-pointer as time expired to lift the Utica College men's basketball team to a 76-75 Empire 8 Conference victory over RIT Friday night. Patterson finished the evening with a game-high 27 points and four assists, while classmate Will Abrams totaled 18 points in his final collegiate home game.

The Pioneers have won three out of their last four games and improved to 13-10 on the year. They are also 7-8 in conference play headed into their final contest of the year at Nazareth College on Saturday. Unfortunately, UC missed out on the conference tournament and Patterson, Abrams and senior Robert Whyte will appear in their final college game on Saturday at 4 p.m. RIT's record fell to 10-14 overall and 7-8 in the E8.

Utica shot 50.9 percent from the floor on the evening and knocked down 11 3-pointers to keep the Tigers at bay. Freshman Jevin McClendon was a perfect 3-for-3 off the bench from beyond the arc and classmate Marion Lewis chipped in with seven points of his own.

After falling in a quick 5-0 hole to start the game the Pioneers responded with 16-2 run to take nine point lead, 16-7, 5:19 into the first half of play. UC was able to maintain its nine point lead for the next seven minutes and after an 11-2 run late in the half the Pioneers found themselves ahead by 16 points, 37-21, with 4:10 to go. RIT would not go down without a fight and used a 15-2 run in the final 4:10 to cut the Utica lead to four points as the first half buzzer sounded.

The second half featured five ties and six lead changes. After RIT knotted the score at 45-45 at the 12:52 ledger, the Pioneers used a 16-4 run to take a commanding 12 point lead with 7:54 to go in regulation. Once again the Tigers answered by making seven of their next nine shots to take a one point lead, 67-66, with 2:56 to play. The visitors extended that lead to as many as four points with less than a minute to go and that's when the Pioneers turned it on. Patterson converted on two free throws and followed that with a steal and an assist to Lewis with 32 seconds to go to tie the contest up for the fifth and final time.

On the next possession RIT converted on two free throws to take a two point lead with six seconds left. Patterson then traveled the length of the floor and the Pioneers called a time out with two seconds left on the game clock. On the ensuing inbounds, Patterson came off a screen, made one dribble, and knocked down an unforgettable game-winning 3-pointer as the buzzer sounded to give the Pioneers a one point victory.

Anthony Terry led the way for RIT with 25 points, while Justin Heisig poured in 24 of his own and added four rebounds. RJ Kalb contributed with ten points and seven rebounds for the Tigers.

                                                               --- www.ucpioneers.com ---