PITTSFORD, NY – Trailing 62-60 with 2.6 seconds left on the clock, the Utica College men's basketball team traveled the length of the court and Avery Coston (Kerhonkson, NY/Rondout Valley) connected on the game-winning 3-pointer as time expired to lift the Pioneers to a thrilling 63-62 victory over Stevens in the semifinals of the Empire 8 Conference Tournament on Friday night at Nazareth College. Utica advances to the E8 finals for the first time since 2007 and will take on top-seeded and host Nazareth on Saturday at 4 p.m.

It appeared as if the Ducks had the game in hand after Michael Zignorski made two free throws with just under three seconds left on the game clock to give Stevens a 62-60 lead.  The Pioneers then called a time out and Utica Head Coach Sean Coffey drew up the game-winning play.  Senior guard Bennito Ayarza(Brooklyn, NY/Cayuga Community College) subbed in off the bench and inbounded the pass to half court to a cutting Ivan Iton (Ossining, NY/Ossining). Iton, who was recently named the Empire 8 Conference Defensive Player of the Year, then dished the ball off to Coston who pulled up from three feet beyond the 3-point arc and drilled the game-winner as the final buzzer sounded.  Utica's student section then joined in on the Pioneer celebration on the court, as Utica advanced to Saturday's final and won its 17th game of the season with the one-point victory.

Utica has now won seven straight games, including two consecutive against Stevens Institute of Technology. Ivan Iton (Ossining, NY/Ossining) finished with another monster night, as he poured in 21 points and also pulled down 15 rebounds for UC. Carl Taylor (East Brunswick, NJ/East Brunswick) chipped in with 14 points and seven rebounds, while Coston made 3-of-4 3-pointers, including the game-winner, to finish with nine points for the Pioneers.

Utica opened the second half on a 26-10 run in the first 7:30 of the half to take its first lead since midway through the first half, following a Hunter Remley (Cranford, NJ/Cranford) 3-pointer. Remley finished the night with seven points for the Pioneers.

Both teams then exchanged buckets in a sequence that saw four lead changes in 1:12. Iton converted a lay-up with 8:13 left on the game clock to give Utica a 47-46 lead. Utica used a 7-0 run in a span of less than three minutes to take a six point lead, 52-46, with 5:54 to go in the contest. UC maintained the six-point lead until the Ducks went on a 9-2 run in the next 3:07 to take a one point lead, 59-58, with 51 seconds left.

Utica trailed by two points, 60-58, with 14 seconds left, but Carl Taylor (East Brunswick, NJ/East Brunswick)nailed two clutch free throws to knot the score at 60-60.  Stevens then went down the court and drew a foul with three seconds left and Zignorski made both free throws to hand the Ducks a two point lead, setting the stage for Coston's thrilling game-winner.

The first half featured seven lead changes until Stevens used a 15-8 run in the final 7:49 of the half to take a seven-point lead, 31-24, into the locker room at the half.
 
The Pioneers entered the contest having won six consecutive Empire 8 games to catapult itself into the third seed in the tournament. Their 11 wins in Empire 8 play during the regular season were the most since 2009.

Utica has now made two straight Empire 8 Conference Tournament appearances and the Pioneers avenged a loss in the semifinals last season against Stevens at St. John Fisher College. The Pioneers are now 4-7 all-time in Empire 8 Tournament games.

Stevens caps its season with an 18-8 overall record. The Ducks were led by 16 points from Jason Winick and 15 points from Zignorski.