Elmira College (2-11, 0-4 Empire 8) at Utica College (3-8, 0-3 Empire 8)
Friday, January 15, 2016 | 6:00 P.M. | Harold T. Clark Athletic Center – Utica, NY
Live Coverage | Game Notes
 
Elmira College (2-11, 0-4 Empire 8) at Hartwick College (8-4, 3-0 Empire 8)
Saturday, January 16, 2016 | 2:00 P.M. | Lambros Arena – Oneonta, NY
Live Coverage | Game Notes
 
Elmira, NY -- The Elmira College men's basketball will look to get back on track this weekend when it continues its four-game road swing at Utica College and Hartwick College on Friday and Saturday. Opening tip for Friday's contest against the Pioneers is scheduled for 6:00 p.m., while the start time against the Hawks is slated for 2:00 p.m. the following day.
 
Last Time Out
Elmira hit the road for the first time in Empire 8 Conference play when it made the short trip up Route 13 to take on Ithaca College on Tuesday night. Unfortunately, the change in venues did not help the Soaring Eagles get in the win column for the first time in E8 play this season, as the Purple and Gold came up just short in  a tightly played 77-73 contest. The Bombers led by as many as 10 points in the second half; however, EC's resiliency continued to shine. Elmira tied the game three separate times with under eight minutes to go, but could not snatch an elusive lead. Gino Leonardi '16 converted a three-point play with 11 seconds remaining to cut the deficit to one, but Ithaca did enough at the free-throw line to hold onto the win.
 
Leonardi Stays Hot
Senior point man Gino Leonardi '16 has shouldered a heavy load of the Elmira offensive output over the team's recent stretch. He has been the engine that has powered EC's half court sets, averaging 17.0 points per game in conference play, which is tied for eighth-best in the E8 this season. Leonardi continued his hot run on Tuesday night against the Bombers, finishing with a game-high 20 points on 7-of-14 shooting from the field.
 
Clamping Down on Defense
The Soaring Eagles' work on the defensive end has been a sore spot all season, a trend that has carried over into the first two weeks of conference play. EC ranks eighth in the E8 in field goal percentage defense, allowing opponents to shoot at a 48.9-percent clip in league play. Through four conference games opponents have averaged 82.0 points against Elmira, which is nearly three points higher than the 79.4 points per game average it has averaged in non-conference games. Additionally, Elmira ranks last in the league in turnover margin (-3.15) and has created a conference-low 54 steals on the season. EC will need to boost these numbers if it hopes to turnaround its slow start to the Empire 8 slate.
 
Seeking a Victory
Elmira is still in search of its first conference victory of the season, as the team fell to Ithaca by four points on Tuesday evening to drop to 0-4 in league play this season. The last time EC dropped the first four games of its conference slate was the 2012-13 campaign when the Soaring Eagles also dropped their first four games, before scoring a victory over Ithaca in their fifth.  
 
All-Time Series: Utica
Elmira is fairly even against Utica, posting a 25-33 all-time record against the Pioneers. EC went 17-11 through the first 28 meetings between the two programs; however, Utica has held a decisive edge over the Soaring Eagles in recent years. Since 2000, Elmira is just 8-22 against its E8 foe, which includes a 3-12 mark in Utica.
 
Scouting the Pioneers
Utica has struggled out of the gates this season, entering the weekend with a 3-8  overall record. Like the Soaring Eagles, the Pioneers will also be seeking their first conference win on Friday, after getting off to a 0-3 mark in E8 play. Senior wing man Robert Tutein powers the Utica offense, ranking eighth in the league in scoring at 16.9 points per game. He has elevated his game to another level in conference games this season, posting 20.0 points per game, which is the fourth-best in the conference.
 
All-Time Series: Hartwick
Elmira is 26-42 all-time against Hartwick; however, the Soaring Eagles have experienced more of the recent success against the Hawks, going 4-2 over the last three seasons. EC also has the most recent victory at Lambros Arena, taking an 85-73 win there last season.
 
Scouting the Hawks
Hartwick has gotten off to a fast start this season, entering the weekend with an 8-4 overall record and an undefeated 3-0 mark within the Empire 8. The Hawks are currently riding a four-game winning streak, while they have topped 90 points twice over that span. Trevor Norton paces a Hartwick offense that boasts four players averaging double-figures. He ranks fourth in the conference in overall scoring at 19.3 points per game, while his 43 three-pointers and .422 percentage from range both rank second in the conference.
 
Looking Ahead
Elmira wraps up its four-game road swing through the conference when it travels to Houghton for a 6:00 p.m. showdown with the Highlanders on Tuesday, January 19^th.