UTICA, N.Y. - The Elmira College Soaring Eagles men's basketball team traveled to Utica, N.Y. for a conference matchup with the Pioneers of Utica University. A strong second half from Utica was too much for Elmira to overcome, as the Soaring Eagles fell 94-77.

PLAY-BY-PLAY
The Soaring Eagles started out on fire from beyond the arc, getting a pair of threes in the first minute, one from Emmanuel Karkari-Mensah and the other by Alec Mercer. Elmira saw six different Soaring Eagles score over the first six minutes as EC jumped out ahead 16-11. Utica responded with a 9-0 run to steal the advantage from the Soaring Eagles. Elmira countered with a 7-0 run of their own, that included a three-point shot from Karkari-Mensah to pull ahead again. Utica went on another 8-0 run to jump ahead by five. The Pioneers kept the momentum going with a 12-1 run as they started to pull away from Elmira. Mercer hit a three at the end of the half as the Soaring Eagles trailed 40-31 heading into halftime. 

Elmira started the second half with the momentum in their favor, seeing six straight points from Mercer. Tyler Cardello hit a three pointer and a layup by JJ Babcock concluded a 13-4 run that tied the game up at 44. The Soaring Eagles continued to get contributions from different players as baskets were traded back-and-forth for the next several minutes. Cardello, Jude Wilkins, and Kelton Brown scored as the game was tied at 59 with ten minutes to play. The Pioneers went on a 24-12 run over the next six minutes to pull away with just five minutes remaining. Utica ran out the clock to leave behind the Soaring Eagles, 94-77. 

LEADERS
Elmira had five players score in double figures with Mercer having 18 points followed by Brown with 17. Cardello recorded 15 points while Wilkins tallied 11, and Karkari-Mensah rounded it out with 10.