Houghton, NY (February 11, 2014) – The Utica College men's basketball team snapped a seven game slide Tuesday night as the Pioneers topped host Houghton College, 80-71. Five different players scored at least nine points for UC, including a team-best 16 point, eight rebound effort from Marion Lewis (Bronx, NY/Lehman). Junior sharp shooter Ian Henderson (Chateaugay, NY/Chateaugay) added 14 points on 4-of-10 shooting from 3-point territory for the Pioneers.

UC moved its overall record to 7-14 and improved to 3-0 all-time against the Highlanders. Houghton lost its 14th straight contest as its record dropped to 3-19 overall on the year. Utica remains on the road for game two of a three game trip on Friday night when the Pioneers head to Alfred University for Empire 8 Conference action at 6 p.m.

The lead changed hands just twice the entire contest and the Pioneers were able to pull away in the second half, earning a lead as large as 15 points, 73-58, with 3:14 remaining in the contest.

The Pioneers used a 9-0 run in a span of 2:14 to take their first ten point lead of the contest, 30-20, with 6:48 remaining in the first half of play. Houghton was able to cut into their deficit before the half, but the Pioneers still managed a seven point advantage (39-32) as the halftime horn sounded.

Utica's Chris Jeffers (Albany, NY/Bishop Maginn) netted 11 points, grabbed seven rebounds and dished out seven assists. Junior bag man Marty Felicia (Phoenix, NY/Phoenix) added a game-high 14 rebounds, nine points and a career-high six blocks, while junior point guard Aaron Nevins (Buffalo, NY/Canisius) added nine point and five assists.

Rich Smith (Albany, NY/La Salle Institute) came off the bench and tallied nine points, while freshman Agim Hamiti (Prishtina, Kosovo/Syracuse Academy of Science) and Robert Tutein (Nanuet, NY/Nanuet) combined for 11 points. Utica shot 48.3% from the floor on the afternoon (16-of-34).

Brandon Camacho led Houghton with 21 points, while Matthew Ball added a double-double (10 points, 11 rebounds).