Utica, NY (12/29/2012) – The Utica College men's basketball team cut its deficit to as few as four points with just over two minutes left in the game but visiting Babson College knocked down six free throws in the final 45 seconds to hang on for a 74-63 victory in non-conference action at the Clark Athletic Center on Saturday afternoon.  Marion Lewis (Bronx, NY/Lehman) quietly led Utica with 17 points on 8-of-14 shooting from the floor, while junior forward Chris Jeffers (Albany, NY/Bishop Maginn) added 17 points and eight rebounds.  The Utica defense held Babson leading-scorer John Wickey to just 13 points, but Matt Palazini and Russell Braithwaite chipped in with 22 and 17 point points, respectively, to help the Beavers advance their record to 7-4 on the year. 

UC (3-6) will look to snap its three game slide on Wednesday when it travels to local rival SUNYIT for a rare Wednesday day-game at 1 p.m.  The Pioneers topped the Wildcats 97-80 in a meeting earlier this season. 

Ball security was the name of the game for Babson, as the Beavers turned it over just six times all afternoon, compared to the Pioneers' 15 turnovers.  Babson received 68 of its 74 points from its starting five, while the Pioneers got a big boost off the bench from Lewis. 

The visitors jumped out to a quick 12-4 lead in the first 5:59 of action, before the Pioneers stormed back behind two straight 3-pointers, from the hot hand of senior Matt Baldwin (Gloversville, NY/Gloversville), to notch a 10-0 run in a span of 2:50 to give UC a 14-12 lead with 9:25 left in the first half.

Babson responded to the Pioneer threat with a 12-2 run of its own to take the lead right back, 24-16, with 3:37 to go in the first half.  The visitor's first half lead would hold as they took a 30-24 advantage into the locker room at the half. 

The Beavers opened the second half on a 15-8 run in a span of 4:46 to take a 13 point lead, 45-32, with 14:55 to go in regulation.  UC trailed by nine with 5:28 to go when the Pioneers made their final push of the game, outscoring Babson 11-1 in a stretch of 3:24 and the home team trailed by just four, 64-60, with 2:04 remaining. 

Babson outscored UC 10-3 in the final 1:35 to earn the 11 point win. 

Point guard Kenny Ross scored 13 points, added five rebounds and five assists, while Wickey chipped in with a game-high 12 rebounds.  Ross also added four steals. 

Connor Maisch (Kingston, NY/John A. Coleman) netted 15 points and grabbed eight rebounds for Utica, but the Beavers were able to hold Utica starters Aaron Nevins (Buffalo, NY/Canisius) and Jeff Ward (Ossining, NY/Ossining High School) scoreless (0-for-8 combined) on the afternoon.  Senior shooter Matt Baldwin (Gloversville, NY/Gloversville) added nine points on 3-of-8 shooting from behind the arc. 

Babson returns to action after the New Year on Jan. 2nd when it continues its four game road trip at Framingham State. Tip-off is scheduled for 8 p.m.

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