Utica, NY (1/5/13) - The Utica College men's basketball team snapped a five game losing streak on Saturday when it defeated visiting Alfred University, 86-74, in Empire 8 Conference play at the Clark Athletic Center.  The Pioneers shot 50.8% (31-for-61) from the floor and they hit 13 3-pointers to improve their record to 4-8 overall and more importantly, 2-2 in conference play.  Utica's Connor Maisch (Kingston, NY/John A. Coleman) netted 7-of-12 3-point attempts on his way to a game-high 26 point effort.  Four different Pioneers scored in double-figures and junior Chris Jeffers (Albany, NY/Bishop Maginn) scored 18 points to go along with a game-high 13 rebounds (six offensive). 

Sophomore point guard Aaron Nevins (Buffalo, NY/Canisius) tallied a season-high 11 assists, while senior shooter Matt Baldwin (Gloversville, NY/Gloversville) scored 18 points. Alfred's Thomas Tsatsis netted a team-best 15 points and Brett Dennis added 13 points for the visiting Saxons (2-9, 0-3 Empire 8).  Tsatsis also added five rebounds, while Jason Ruback came away with three steals. 

The Pioneers truly wasted no time as they jumped out to a 16-5 lead in the first 6:29 of action behind six points from Maisch.  The onslaught seemed to continue throughout the first half as the Pioneers extended their lead to as many as 19 points on three different occasions before the end of the first half. 

A 13-3 run in a 4:14 stretch in the beginning of the second half helped Utica increase it's lead to 66-43 with 14:23 left in regulation. Alfred responded with a 29-17 run in the next 13:33 of play, cutting the Pioneers lead to 11 points, but only 50 second remained in the contest and it proved to be too late. 

UC led the entire game and managed their second 23 point lead (largest lead of the game), 83-60, with just over six minutes left in the contest. 

Senior forward Jeff Ward (Ossining, NY/Ossining High School) scored seven points and grabbed four rebounds for UC.  The Pioneers' starting five combined for 82 points on the afternoon. 

Utica returns to the hardwood on Tuesday night when they take on visiting Ithaca College in a key conference match-up at 8 p.m.