Utica, NY – The Elmira College Men's Basketball team fell to host Utica College, 76-69, Saturday afternoon. The win improves the Pioneers to 6-11 overall and 2-4 in Empire 8 play, while the loss drops the Soaring Eagles to 0-16 overall and 0-6 in conference competition.

With just less than three minutes remaining in the opening period Utica led 40-29. Elmira closed the half on a 7-0 run in which four different players scored, bringing the deficit to 40-36 at the break. Chris Cassidy '14 (Colts Neck, NJ -- Colts Neck) and Dan O'Brien '14 (Oneonta, NY -- Oneonta) carried the load offensively in the half for Elmira, as they tallied nine points apiece.

The Pioneers used a 9-3 run out of halftime to take a 10 point lead at 49-39, six minutes into the second half. This would be the largest lead of the half for Utica, but EC could not get any closer than five, which they did on three different occasions, as the Pioneers held on for the seven point win.

Josh Keys '14 (Bel Air, MD -- CM Wright) led Elmira with 19 points, shooting 7-for-13 from the field and 5-for-8 from three-point range. O'Brien added 18 points, while Cassidy registered 13 in the scoring column. Utica's Matt Baldwin led all scorers with 23 points, Reggie German added 14, and Marlon Davidson finished with 10.

Elmira shot 40 percent from the field, while Utica converted on half of the shots it attempted, including an impressive 7-for-13 performance from downtown. The Pioneers held a slight 38-32 advantage on the glass and dominated points in the paint, 30-14. EC more than doubled up Utica in bench points 39-18.

The Soaring Eagles return to action Tuesday when they host Alfred University at 8:00 p.m.

Utica 76 Elmira 69
Box Score