Utica, NY -- The Elmira College men's basketball team continued its first road swing in Empire 8 Conference play when they tipped off a weekend set with a Friday evening tilt at Utica College. Runs were the difference in this one, as the Pioneers put together a prolonged run down the back half of the first half to secure a 10-point lead at the halftime break. The margin would prove to be the difference in a 76-66 loss.
 
It was a tough start for Elmira, as Utica began the contest on a 10-0 run in the opening 4:16 of play. However, the Soaring Eagles battled back with a scoring run of their own to get back into the game. Following the Pioneers 10-point barrage, EC went on to score the next 12 to briefly take a slim lead. Hayden Harkins '18 powered the run, knocking down triples on back-to-back possessions. Anthony Abate '19 book-ended the run with the opening basket and a layup with 11:53 left in the first to push the Soaring Eagles ahead.
 
Elmira took too two separate three point leads in the opening half; however, the Pioneers had another run in them down the back stretch of the half, which ended up being the difference in the game. With Elmira leading 17-14 with 8:33 left in the half, Utica closed the half by outscoring EC 26-to-13, which included a 22-7 run over a 5:36 stretch to snatch control of the contest. The Pioneers took a 40-30 advantage into the break.
 
The home side carried over the hot shooting into the second stanza, tallying the first five points to stretch the advantage to 15, but Elmira once again showcased its classic resiliency to close the gap. Justin Porrett '19 and Gino Leonardi '16 sparked a 11-1 EC run to close the game to within two possessions with a five-point deficit at 46-41 with 10:50 to play. Porrett posted five of his team-high 14 points over the run, while Leonardi added for of his 12 points in the game.
 
Unfortunately, the Pioneers had one final run in them, which iced the game for the home side. A 21-7 run by Utica stretched its advantage to a game-high 19 points with just over four minutes remaining. The Soaring Eagles cut the deficit again in the waning moments of the contest, but the gap was too wide to bridge, sending Elmira to another hard fought conference defeat.
 
Turning Point
Elmira overcame an early double-digit deficit to take a slim lead just over the halfway point of the opening half. Unfortunately, the stretch run of the half proved to be the difference in the game, as Utica closed the first 20 minutes by outscoring the visitors 26-to-13, which included a 22-7 run to take control of the contest. Elmira could not close any closer than five points through the rest of the game.
 
Inside the Box Score

• Utica outshot Elmira 50-percent (24-for-48) to 40-percent (22-for-55) in the contest.
• The Pioneers were lights out from distance, knocking down 10-of-19 three-point opportunities.
• Elmira made seven treys of its own, but was not as precise going 7-of-23 from beyond the arc.
• The teams combined for 47 free-throw opportunities in the game, with Utica holding a slight edge 18-of-26 to Elmira's 15-of-21 from the charity stripe.
• Four Elmira players scored in double-figures in the game, led by Porrett's 14 points.
• Leonardi and Connor Bays '18 each added 12 points apiece, while Hayden Harkins chipped in 11 points.
• The Pioneers held a slight edge 36-to-33 in rebounds.
• Henry Cuffee '19 led all players with a career-high four steals, while he also added a team-high five rebounds. 

New and Notes

• With the loss, Elmira falls to 25-34 all-time against Utica.
• EC is now 3-13 in contests played at Utica since 2000.
• Elmira has now begun conference play with a 0-5 mark. The last time EC started the season with five straight losses was the 2011-12 season in which the Soaring Eagles dropped their first 11 Empire 8 games.
• With the 14 points, Porrett has now scored in double-digits in seven games this season.
• Porrett's 2-for-4 mark from three-point range marked just the second time this season he has made multiple treys in a game this season.
• Cuffee's four steals were a career high and a single-game individual season high for the team this season.
• Bays' 12 points were a career high for the second year guard.

Up Next
Elmira concludes the weekend set tomorrow afternoon when it takes on Hartwick College at 2:00 p.m.