Fisher, Elmira and Ithaca Earn Wins

2/4/2014 9:22:00 PM

St. John Fisher 92, Utica 69 (Box Score)
Four players scored in double-figures as the St. John Fisher College men's basketball team used a 14-3 run in the opening minutes of the game to storm past host Utica College 92-69 on Tuesday.

The Cardinals were firing on all cylinders, scoring a season-high 50 points in the first half en route to their best shooting performance of the season as Fisher converted nearly 64% of its shots from the field in the win.

Stefan Bock got the night started for Fisher after draining a jumper to spark Fisher's run. A three-pointer by Tyler Hart gave Fisher a 12-2 lead before Keegan Ryan banked one home to cap Fisher's run at 14-3.

After exchanging baskets, Utica used a 7-0 run to close the gap to 18-15 with 11:37 left in the game, but Fisher would stretch its lead to 17-points after a 13-4 run that was fueled by Charles McVay, who scored 10 points during the streak.

The Cardinals would continue to pour it on as the half neared an end, scoring six unanswered points to enjoy a 50-28 lead as the halftime horn sounded.

Fisher continued its strong play in the second half, as the visitors opened up a 30-point lead, 67-37 after a 17-7 spurt that was completed as Bock found a cutting Adam Ambielli for the lay-up.

The lead would be extended to 34 points before the Pioneers were able to cut the deficit to 21 points, 76-55, but that was as close as Utica would get. The Cardinals would outscore the Pioneers 10-3 over the next several minutes to seal the win.


Ithaca 97, Houghton 82 (Box Score)
The Ithaca College men's basketball team (6-14) defeated Houghton (3-16) Tuesday evening, dropping the Highlanders by a score of 97-82 at the Nielsen Center.

Ithaca went 31-of-56 from the floor, shooting an impressive 55.4 percent. The Bombers were 10-of-15 (66.7 percent) from beyond the arc, including a mark of 6-for-7 for Joe Masino. Ithaca also went 25-of-30 (83.3 percent) from the free throw line.

Both teams led briefly in the early going before the host Highlanders jumped out to a five-point lead with 10:21 to go in the first half. Ithaca battled back, and tied the game on four different occasions over the next six minutes of play. Tied at 38-38 with 4:39 remaining in the first, the Bombers went on a 10-8 run to take a narrow 48-45 lead to the break.

Houghton made a slight run to open the second, taking a one point lead just under two minutes into the half. From that point on, Ithaca owned the second frame. The Bombers took a 51-49 advantage at 18:27 and never gave back the lead. Ithaca closed strong, taking its biggest lead (15 points) of the night into the final buzzer for the 97-82 victory.


Elmira 80, Alfred 67 (Box Score)
A 19-0 run in the first half by the Elmira College men's basketball team (8-11, 3-5 E8) turned into a 29 point second half lead and eventually an 80-67 win over visiting Alfred University (14-5, 5-3 E8).  Elmira never trailed in today's game as they controlled play from the opening tip, holding the nation's second-leading scoring offense to just 67 points, 32 lower than their season average.

Alfred would claw their way back into the game, cutting Elmira's lead to just seven with 2:49 to play.  However, Elmira would manage to take a 37-26 lead into halftime, despite having three major players in foul trouble.

In the second half, Elmira's lead would hover around 15 points for the first three minutes of play.  Then, starting at the 15:42 mark, Elmira would go on a 15-2 run to take a 58-33 lead with 12:50 to play in regulation.  During that stretch, Keys knocked down two three-pointers for six points while three other EC players contributed with baskets.

Following Elmira's run, the Saxons looked like they might make a mini-run as they scored four straight, but Elmira put away any thoughts of a comeback as they built their lead to 29 points with 7:17 to play.  Alfred would make a collection of baskets to end the game, but posed no real threat to the Soaring Eagles as Elmira marched away with an 80-67 victory.


Williams 83, Stevens 68 (Box Score)
No. 10 Williams College defeated Stevens Institute of Technology by a score of 83-68 Tuesday night at the Canavan Arena in a non-conference men's basketball game. The loss ended Stevens' six-game winning streak.
 
The first half was back-and-forth with the largest lead being four for the Ducks and three for the Ephs as neither team would allow the other to create any separation.
 
A layup from Andrew Meszaros gave Stevens a 42-41 edge from the field with 14:27 to play in the second half, but the Ephs answered in a big way, going on a 15-0 run over a span of just 2:56 to take a 56-42 lead. In the run, the guests hit four three-pointers, two from freshman guard Mike Greenman, and the Ducks could get no closer than eight the rest of the way.
 
Williams shot 50 percent for the game (29-for-58) and was 17-for-26 in the second half (65.4 percent). The Ephs hit 7-of-11 three's in the second half and 12 for the game. They were led by 22 points and 10 rebounds from freshman forward Duncan Robinson.
 
Stevens shot 37.5 percent from the field (24-for-64), 7-for-31 from three and 13-for-17 at the line. Each team grabbed 38 rebounds, with the Ducks dishing out 15 assists (13 turnovers).

SCHOOL	CONF	OVERALL
Stevens	8-2	14-6
Hartwick	8-2	13-7
Nazareth	6-3	13-6
Alfred	5-3	14-5
St. John Fisher	6-5	12-9
Elmira	3-5	8-11
Ithaca	1-8	6-14
Utica	1-10	6-14
Houghton	0-0	3-16
Houghton is an NCAA provisional member and is not eligible for postseason. Games against the Highlanders will not impact conference records/standings.