Utica Fends Off Thomas in OT to Advance to Tournament Final
Saratoga Springs, N.Y.
Senior guard James Patterson netted 21 free throws en route to a season-high 27 points as he led the Pioneers to an overtime victory against Thomas College, 94-90. The Utica College men's basketball team (4-1, 0-0 Empire 8) advances to the championship game Sunday against host Skidmore College (4-1, 0-0 Liberty League) in the Hilton Inn Invitational. Tip-off is scheduled for 3 p.m. at Wiliamson Center in Saratoga Springs, NY.
Thomas College (1-3, 0-0 North Atlantic Conference) controlled most of the first half and had an eight point lead, 22-14, at 7:45. UC would go on a 12-4 run to knot the score, 28-28, off a Jeff Ward three point play, with 4:15 remaining. Alex Meyer hit two big three-pointers, 44 seconds apart, to help Utica edge a 39-36 halftime lead. Meyer finished with 11 points and six rebounds off the bench.
The Pioneers came out firing in the second half as they went on a 21-10 run and at 10:18 UC's lead was 61-46. Utica would maintain a double digit for almost 14 minutes however could not avoid a late 31-13 run by the Terriers who tied the game, 86-86, with two seconds remianing to send the contest into overtime.
UC would outscore Thomas 8-4 in overtime with Patterson hitting 6-of-6 free throws.
Patterson finished with 27 points, including 21-of-24 from the free throw line. He also added four rebounds, four assists and four steals.
Sophomore Jeff Ward posted another double-double netting 13 ponts and grabbing 14 boards.
Senior Will Abrams and sophomore Kevin Johnson combined for 20 points, with all ten of Johnson's points coming at the line.