Box Score
Cortland 97, Utica 84 - Men's Basketball Final
Utica, NY (11/17/2012) – The Utica College men's basketball team used an 11-0 run late in the second half to cut its 23 point deficit to just 12 with 2:41 left in the contest, but it proved to be too late as visiting Cortland improved to 2-0 with a 97-84 victory over the Pioneers in their season opener at the Clark Athletic Center Gymnasium Saturday afternoon. Junior transfer Connor Maisch (Kingston, NY/John A. Coleman) performed as advertised for UC, scoring a team-best 22 points (6-of-9 from 3-point), but it was not enough to lift the Pioneers to a victory. Four different players scored in double-figures for UC (0-1), including Maisch, Jeff Ward (Ossining, NY/Ossining High School) (17 points), Matt Baldwin (Gloversville, NY/Gloversville) (11) and Chris Jeffers (Albany, NY/Bishop Maginn) (11).
Cortland used a 14-3 run in a span of 6:16 to end the first half, and another 21-8 run that lasted 5:40 in the opening eight minutes of the second half to extend their lead to 19 points, 70-51, with just under 12 minutes to go in the game.
The Red Dragons were able to maintain their lead for the majority of the second half and extended it to as many as 23 points, 89-66, with 4:03 left in the contest before UC made its final push.
Cortland never trailed in the entire contest, allowing just three ties midway through the first half. Six different players scored in double-figures for the visitors and they were led by sixth-man Brian Manning's 25 point effort. Big man Kevin McMahon chipped in with 13 points and 11 rebounds before fouling out in the second half.
Cortland got a huge lift from its bench as their reserves totaled 42 points. Point guard Jesse Winter chipped in with a game-high 10 assists for the Red Dragons. Cortland shot 40% from beyond the arc, including nine 3-pointers in the first half alone, to thwart the Pioneers' athletic 2-3 zone.
Alex Meyer (Salt Point, NY/Our Lady of Lourdes) led UC off the bench with seven points, while point guard Aaron Nevins (Buffalo, NY/Canisius) chipped in with nine points and four assists. Maisch also tallied seven rebounds and five assists for Utica. Chris Jeffers (Albany, NY/Bishop Maginn) led the Pioneers on the glass with ten boards.
Utica is now 2-5 against Cortland over the course of the last eight year.
The Pioneers return to the hardwood on Tuesday night when they host local rival SUNYIT for a non-conference matchup at 4 p.m.
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