BABSON PULLS AWAY TO TOP UC 74-63
Box Score Babson 74, Utica 63 – Men’s Basketball Final
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.
UC CLOSES OUT FIRST SEMESTER WITH LOSS AT UNION
Box Score
Union 82, Utica 61 – Men’s Basketball Final
SCHENECTADY, NY — Senior guard Joe Mason scored a game high 21 points and sophomore guard Terell Winney scored a season high 16 points as the Union College men’s basketball squad won its sixth straight, 82-61 vs. Utica at the Viniar Athletic Center Tuesday night. The Dutchmen are now 7-1 after the non-league triumph while the Pioneers stand 3-5.
Mason hit the 20 point mark for the fourth time in eight games, and had seven rebounds and three assists. He made nine of his 10 shots from the floor. Winney was six of nine shooting and dished out three assists. Keven Donohue added 11 points and Keith Callies had 10 with a game best four steals and Matt Petrone added passed out four assists for the Dutchmen. Union shot 46% for the game and outrebounded Utica, 43-37.
Chris Jeffers (Albany, NY/Bishop Maginn) and Jeff Ward (Ossining, NY/Ossining High School) scored 11 each for Utica, and Jeffers led all Pioneers with seven rebounds. Aaron Nevins (Buffalo, NY/Canisius) and Marion Lewis (Bronx, NY/Lehman) had three assists. Utica shot 38%.
Union led by 11 at halftime, 43-32. In the second half, the Dutchmen got up by as many as 30 points after two free throws by Evan Croll made it 71-41 with 10:31 left in the period. Union opened the half with a 26-7 run in the first 9:29. During that run, Joe Mason scored five points and Keith Callies added four.
PIONEERS OPEN CONFERENCE PLAY WITH WIN OVER E-8 PRESEASON FAVORITE HARTWICK
Box Score
Utica 75, Hartwick 72 – Men’s Basketball Final
Oneonta, NY (12/4/2012) – The Utica College men’s basketball team snapped host Hartwick College’s four game winning streak after a 75-72 victory in the Empire 8 Conference opener for both squads Tuesday night at Lambros Arena. Utica junior transfer Connor Maisch (Kingston, NY/John A. Coleman) netted a career-high 25 points to help UC win its second straight and advance its record to 3-3 overall on the year.
Three other players scored in double-figures for UC including sophomore point guard Aaron Nevins (Buffalo, NY/Canisius) (16), senior shooting guard Matt Baldwin (Gloversville, NY/Gloversville) (13) and junior forward Chris Jeffers (Albany, NY/Bishop Maginn) (10). Jeffers also chipped in with a game-high 11 rebounds to record his third double-double of the young season. The Pioneers also snapped a six game losing streak against the Hawks which dated back to the 2008-09 season.
“I’m extremely proud of our effort tonight. We went on the road and got the job done,” said fifth year Head Coach Chris Connolly. “We showed that we can go toe-to-toe with a very good Hartwick team. This was a great way for us to open up conference play and it will give us a nice confidence boost headed into Friday night’s game against an unbeaten Stevens team.”
With the score knotted at 9-9 with 11:39 to go in the first half, the Hawks when on an 11-4 run to take a seven point advantage, 20-13, with 8:31 left before halftime. Hartwick pushed its lead to 10 points, 30-20, with 3:48 remaining but the Pioneers responded with an 11-3 run to trail by just two as the first half clock expired.
UC kept its momentum rolling in the second half by exploding with a 23-6 run to stretch their lead to as many as 15 points with 13:49 left in the contest. Maisch led UC with 13 points in the second half push. ‘Wick cut its deficit to single digits, 56-47, with just under ten minutes left to play, but the Pioneers answered right back with a 3-pointer from Baldwin to extend their lead back to 12 points.
Despite not making a field goal in the final 4:31 of play the Pioneers were able to knock down 9-of-12 free throws in the closing 3:03 of action to hang on for the three point Empire 8 victory.
Jared Suderley, of nearby West Canada Valley High School, netted 18 points and grabbed six rebounds but the Pioneers held the conference stand out to just 5-of-17 shooting from the floor. Kyle Bradley chipped in with 15 points and six rebounds, while Anthony Kane added 11 points and sex boards for the Hawks.
Jeff Ward (Ossining, NY/Ossining High School) grabbed nine rebounds, scored seven points and blocked three shots for UC. Utica knocked down seven 3-pointers and outrebounded the home squad 43-26 on the afternoon.
The Pioneers return to the hardwood on Friday night when they host “A Game for Brooks Miles” against visiting and nationally-ranked No. 25 Stevens Institute of Technology (5-0). The contest, which begins at 8 p.m., will benefit the Faxton St. Luke’s Healthcare Foundation and the Utica branch of the Children’s Miracle Network.
The Pioneers will wear “A Game for Brooks Miles” T-Shirts during warm-ups and throughout both the men’s and women’s games there will be a 50/50 raffle, T-Shirt give-a-ways, and a bake sale. Charles A. Gaetano Construction Corporation has generously donated the warm-up T-shirts for the Pioneers. Utica College’s Student Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC) will be on hand to help staff the event.
BALDWIN BREAKS OUT AS PIONEERS SNAP TWO GAME SLIDE AGAINST CANTON
Utica 89, Canton 66 – Men’s Basketball Final
Canton, NY (11/28/2012) – Senior shooting guard Matt Baldwin (Gloversville, NY/Gloversville) netted a season-high 22 points and six-man Marion Lewis (Bronx, NY/Lehman)chipped in with a career-best 21 point effort as the Utica College men’s basketball team snapped a two game slide after a convincing 89-66 win over host SUNY Canton Wednesday night. The Pioneers jumped out to a 53-28 halftime lead and never looked back as they improved to 2-3 overall on the year.
Utica came of the gates quick in the first half, shooting 61.5% from behind the arc, while knocking down eight 3-pointers. With the score set at 10-6 with less than five minutes into the game the Pioneers’ used a 19-7 run to take a 16 point lead midway through the first half. UC then used a 21-9 run to take a 25 point lead with about a minute to go in the half.
The Pioneers stretched their lead to 29 points early in the second half and the Roos made one small run, lowering their deficit to 18 points with 1:23 to go, but it proved to be much too late as UC cruised to the 23 point victory.
Senior forward Jeff Ward (Ossining, NY/Ossining High School) broke out with 16 points and 13 rebounds, while Chris Jeffers (Albany, NY/Bishop Maginn) registered his typical eight points and nine rebounds. Junior transfer Connor Maisch (Kingston, NY/John A. Coleman) registered a team-high eight assists to go along with his six points. Starting point guard Aaron Nevins (Buffalo, NY/Canisius) also added six assists. Sophomore big man Marty Felicia (Phoenix, NY/Phoenix) came off the bench and made 3-of-3 shots for a season-best seven points.
The Pioneers knocked down nine 3-pointers and shot 53.6% (37-of-69) from the floor on their way to the 23 point victory.
UC scored 52 of its points in the paint and netted 12 points on fast break opportunities. The Pioneers also go a huge lift from their bench, which totaled 33 points all together.
Canton, which outscored UC 38-36 in the second half, decreased its record to 1-3 overall. Khalid Vaugh led the Roo’s with 19 points, while Xavier Fisher chipped in with 13 points and eight rebounds.
Utica will now take a six day break before it opens up Empire 8 Conference play on the hardwood at Hartwick College next Tuesday. Tip-off is set for 8 p.m.
Utica 97, SUNYIT 80 – Men’s Basketball Final
Utica, NY (11/20/2012) – Five different players scored in double-figures for Utica College as the Pioneers outscored visiting SUNYIT by 16 in the second half on their way to a 97-80 victory in non conference action at the Clark Athletic Center Gymnasium Tuesday night.
Junior transfer Connor Maisch (Kingston, NY/John A. Coleman) led Utica for the second straight game with 21 points, while junior forward Chris Jeffers (Albany, NY/Bishop Maginn) chipped in with 16 points and a game-high ten rebounds to help UC advance its record to 1-1 on the year.
SUNYIT, playing in its season-opener, was led by a 21 point performance from junior gunner Alex Drake, who knocked down 5-of-10 3-pointers and added five steals and five assists for the visitors. Desmian Greer also chipped in with 20 points and five assists for SUNYIT (0-1).
Trailing 16-14 seven minutes into the contest, the Pioneers went on a 13-0 run in a span of 3:21, sparked by Aaron Nevins (Buffalo, NY/Canisius)’ six points and Maisch’s five points to give the Pioneers 27-16 lead with 9:18 left in the first half of play. Nevins, the reigning Empire 8 Conference Rookie of the Year, finished the day with a season-high 20 points and five assists.
The Wildcats responded with a 16-2 run in a span of 2:38 to take a 34-31 lead with 6:05 left in the opening half. UC outscored the Wildcats 17-13 in the final 5:42 of the first half to take a one point lead, 48-47, into the locker room at intermission.
There were 11 lead changes in the first 21:50 of the contest before the Pioneers used a 17-8 run in a span of 7:26 early in the second half to secure the lead for good.
UC was leading by eight points, 82-74, with 4:36 left in regulation when it went on a 14-2 run over the course of the next 3:47 to stretch the Pioneer lead to a game-high 20 points, 96-76, with under a minute to paly.
Utica shot 56.3% from the floor (36-of-64) and went 20-for-24 from the charity stripe, while the Wildcats used precision from behind the arc, shooting 11-for-24 from 3-point land to keep the home team at bay.
Utica scored 30 points off of 16 SUNYIT turnovers and the Pioneers also blocked ten shots on the defensive end. SUNYIT got itself into foul trouble early and before the end of the contest two of the Wildcats top scoring threats, T’Andre Richardson and Alex Drake, had to leave the game with five fouls. UC held Richardson, a sophomore from nearby Proctor High School, to just eight points and eight rebounds.
Senior big man Jeff Ward (Ossining, NY/Ossining High School) added 14 points on 4-for-5 shooting from the floor for UC, while Marion Lewis (Bronx, NY/Lehman) gave the Pioneers productive minutes off the bench, scoring 13 points and grabbing six boards.
De’Ondray Tape and Derek Rowe each added ten points for the Wildcats.
Utica returns to the hardwood on Saturday when it travels to Scott Field House at Hamilton College to participate in the Continentals Thanksgiving Tournament. The Pioneers will square off against New York University at 5 p.m. in their tournament opener. The Wildcats will take eight days off before traveling to Union College to take on the Dutchmen at 8 p.m.
LATE RALLY FALLS SHORT FOR PIONEERS IN SEASON OPENER AGAINST CORTLAND
Cortland 97, Utica 84 – Men’s Basketball Final
Miss the game click here for MHTS/ESPN replay!
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).
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.
Empire 8 Releases Preseason Coaches’ Poll
2012-13 Empire 8 Preseason Coaches’ Poll
Click here to listen live on ESPN!
Utica, NY (11/16/2012) – The Utica College men’s basketball team was selected to finish sixth in the Empire 8 Conference Preseason Coaches’ Poll released Friday. Hartwick edged out Ithaca by a mere two points for the top spot in the nine team poll, which is voted on by each head coach in the conference.
UC’s season kicks off on Saturday when it hosts Cortland State at 2 p.m. at the Harold T. Clark Athletic Center Gymnasium. Fans who cannot make it out to the contest can follow all of the action live online through live video, live audio and live stats. Fans can also follow the Pioneers all year long on Twitter @UCPioneers or “Like” the Utica College Pioneers on Facebook.
Utica finished its 2011-12 campaign with a 9-16 overall record and the Pioneers return four of their top five leading scorers from one year ago. Senior shooting guard Matt Baldwin(Gloversville, NY/Gloversville) returns for his senior campaign after averaging a team-best 16.2 points per game last season. Baldwin is a proven shooter from 3-point land, having knocked down a team-best 70 3-pointers in 23 games last year.
All-Conference forward Jeff Ward (Ossining, NY/Ossining High School) returns for his senior season after posting 14.7 points and 8.3 rebounds per game last season. Ward currently ranks ninth on the College’s all-time rebounding list with 478 over the course of 74 career games. He needs just 22 boards to become the sixth player in program-history to reach the 500 rebound plateau.
Sophomore point guard Aaron Nevins (Buffalo, NY/Canisius) returns after a successful freshman season which resulted in Empire 8 Conference Rookie of the Year and D3hoops.com East Region Rookie of the Year accolades. Nevins is the first player since All-American Ray Bryant ’07 to earn one of D3hoops.com’s two major post season awards (Rookie of the Year/Player of the Year). Nevins, who was a three-time conference rookie of the week selection, started 24 of 25 games and poured in 224 points, good for an average of 9.0 per game. He also finished in the top-5 in three key Empire 8 statistical categories; assists, assists/turnover ratio, and steals. Nevins totaled a team-best 91 assists and just 61 turnovers on the year, amounting to a 1.5 ratio, all while averaging 1.3 steals per contest.
One of the key components to the Pioneers success will be the workmanlike play of junior forward Chris Jeffers (Albany, NY/Bishop Maginn). Jeffers returns after leading the team with an average of 8.9 rebounds per game last year. He also chipped in on the offensive end with an average of 7.0 points per contest.
Head Coach Chris Connolly enters his fifth season at the helm and he currently has 46 victories under his belt at UC.
