Utica Stuns 27th-Ranked Ithaca for Second Time This Season
Ithaca, N.Y.
Ithaca, N.Y. (2/5/2011) – All five starters scored in double figures for the Utica College men’s basketball team as the Pioneers knocked off nationally-ranked No. 27 Ithaca College 94-89 in an Empire 8 Conference match up Saturday afternoon. Senior point guard James Patterson scored a career-high 32 points to pace the Pioneers.
Utica, which beat Ithaca in an early season meeting, improved to 10-8 overall, but more importantly the Pioneers have now won two straight improved to 4-6 in conference play. Ithaca dropped to 15-5 overall and 8-3 in conference play, with two of those losses coming at the hands of the Pioneers.
The first half featured six lead changes and two ties as both teams shot over 50 percent from the floor in the high scoring affair. Ithaca used a 22-10 run midway through the first half to earn its largest lead of the contest, 37-25, with 7:34 to go before the half. UC answered immediately with a 22-9 run to take a one point lead, 47-46, with 2:20 to go in the half. Ithaca was able to regain a small lead and took a slim 49-47 advantage into the locker room.
The second half was a back and forth battle which saw 11 lead changes and three ties. However, the Pioneers shot an incredible 66.7 percent from the floor to keep the home team at bay. Patterson scored five consecutive points early in the second half to give the Pioneers a four point lead, 67-63, with 13:34 to go in regulation. Ithaca followed with a 10-1 run to take a four point advantage, 77-73, with 7:23 left. That’s when the Pioneers turned it on and did not miss a shot from the floor for the remainder of the game. Patterson continued to deliver the dagger, scoring ten points in the final 4:27, to lead the Pioneers to a convincing five point victory.
Sophomore forward Jeff Ward scored 17 points and grabbed seven rebounds for UC, while senior Will Abrams added 14 points and six rebounds. Robert Whyte< scored ten points and grabbed eight boards and Kevin Johnson chipped in with 12 points and four assists. Freshman Jevin McClendon added a key 3-pointer in the first half for UC.