Score: Utica College 70 – Elmira College 36
Records: Utica (10-15, 10-6 E8), Elmira (3-22, 1-15 E8)
Location: Clark Athletic Center Gymnasium – Utica, N.Y.

UTICA, N.Y. -- The Elmira College men's basketball team fell to Empire 8 Conference foe Utica College by a final score of 70-36 on Saturday in the 2016-17 season finale. 

The Soaring Eagles started the game off flat, going the first 5:40 of the contest scoreless, until a Justin Ruback '18 layup put the score at 9-2. The Pioneers continued their pressure, as their advantage grew as high as 14 points, 16-2 at the10:21 mark of the half. Despite facing this early deficit, Elmira battled back, as an Alex Ischiropoulos '20 trey drew it within seven points, 19-12, with 4:58 remaining. EC would not get any closer for the remainder of the half, as it entered halftime down 24-14.

Matt Davis '17 started the quarter off promisingly for Elmira with a jumper that cut the margin to just eight points, 24-16. Unfortunately for the Soaring Eagles, the Pioneers answered with a 24-12 run over the next nine minutes to cruise out to a 20-point cushion, 48-28. Utica continued its offensive attack in the second half of the stanza, building the lead to as high as 37 points, on its way to the 34-point victory, 70-36.

Turning Point
Following the Davis jumper that put Elmira down just eight points, 24-16, the Pioneers went on an offensive tear to out-score EC 46-22 in the second half. Utica's main strength was its 60.0 field goal percentage in the stanza. While the Pioneers excelled, the Soaring Eagles struggled, as they finished the half with a 38.5 field goal percentage. Elmira's inability to keep up with Utica's shooting efficiency allowed the Pioneers to storm out the large advantage.

Inside the Box Score

• Utica knocked down 24-of-52 attempts from the field (46.2%).
• Elmira was 16-for-54 from the floor (29.6%).
• The Soaring Eagles struggled from 3-point range, making just 3-of-18 attempts (16.7%).
• The Pioneers shot a cool 50-percent from beyond the arc (7-of-14).
• Utica was also 15-of-24 from the charity stripe (62.5%), while EC went 1-for-7 (14.3%).
• UC controlled the boards, 44-to-31.
• Elmira committed 14 turnovers, while Utica finished with 10.
• Six of Utica's turnovers were a result of Elmira steals; UC registered seven takeaways.
• Davis led Elmira with a team-high eight points and tied for the team lead with five rebounds.
• Justin Porrett '19 finished with four points, five rebounds, three assists and one steal.
• Elmira's bench finished with 13 points, as four players contributed buckets.

 
News and Notes

• Today's contest marked the end of the 2016-17 regular season for the Soaring Eagles.
• Elmira's 36 points are a season low and mark the second time this season EC has been held to under 40.
• EC's six steals are tied for the second-highest single-game output of the year.