ELMIRA, N.Y. – The Elmira College Men's Basketball team would hold a three-point lead heading into the second half against the Pioneers from Utica University on Friday evening, but would eventually fall as the visitors outscored the Purple & Gold 56-53 to take the victory, 93-72. 

Elmira, who turned the ball over just five times in the first half compared to eight for the Pioneers, would commit 13 second half turnovers in the loss as Utica used a 20-4 advantage in points off turnovers in the frame. 

For the game, Owen Evans '26 would pace Elmira offensively with 20 points, three rebounds, and three assists. For Evans, the points total marked a career-best as he finished 7-of-13 from the floor and 6-of-8 from beyond the arc

JUST THE BASICS:
SCORE: Elmira 72, Utica 93
LOCATION: Elmira, New York | Speidel Gymnasium
TEAM RECORDS: Elmira (7-9, 3-4 Empire 8), Utica (12-2, 5-0 Empire 8)

HOW IT HAPPENED:

• The Soaring Eagles would come out strong to begin the game, as back-to-back three pointers from Riley Spencer '26 would have the Purple & Gold off and running. 
• After Utica tied the contest at 12-12 just under seven minutes into the half, the Soaring Eagles would use an 11-2 run over the next three minutes of play, taking a nine point lead as the contest approached the midway point in the first. 
• The Elmira lead would grow to as many as 10 points on a few separate occasions, but a 12-6 run over the final three minutes of play saw the Elmira lead trimmed to 40-37 following a last second basket from Carter Seeberger '26. 
• In the opening half, the Soaring Eagles would shoot 40.5% from the floor, compared to 50.0% for the Pioneers. A solid 7-of-12 mark from beyond the arc compared to just three long balls for the Pioneers helped EC to the lead. 
• In the second half, the Pioneers would force EC into 13 turnovers, and would take the lead just 90 seconds into the second half, a lead they would not surrender the remainder of the way. 
• In the final frame, Elmira shot 11-of-29 (37.9%) from the field, compared to a 22-of-24 (64.7%) mark for the Pioneers. 
• Amin Ba-Ahmad '27 would make his home debut for the Soaring Eagles, scoring his first collegiate point while collecting a trio of rebounds. 

UP NEXT:
The Soaring Eagles return to the court tomorrow afternoon to take on the Wolves from Keuka College. Tip is set for 4:00 PM inside Speidel Gymnasium.