UTICA, NY -- The Utica College men's basketball team will head into its semester hiatus having won two of its last three games after topping visiting Union College 78-74 in non conference action at the Clark Athletic Center Tuesday. Utica improved to 4-3 overall on the year. Union dropped to 2-5 overall.
The Pioneers were led once in the scoring column, for the sixth time in seven games, by Aaron Nevins, who poured in 22 points (10-of-14 from the free throw line) and added five assists. Nevins, who was named the Empire 8 Conference's Player of the Week after netting a career-high 32 points against Canton last Wednesday, also chipped in with two steals.
Chris Jeffers, who enter the contest ranked 7th nationally and first in the Empire 8 in rebounds per game, pulled down 17 boards to lead the team for the sixth time this year on the glass. Marty Felicia also had a nice evening, posting 15 points, six rebounds and two blocks.
Union's
Kevin Weckworth totaled 17 points (7-of-13 from the floor), while team-leading scorer
Terell Winney chipped in with 12 points for the visitors.
Ryan Whelpley added nine points and nine rebounds.
William Hython had a solid night off the bench, scoring a career high 13 points and grabbing five rebounds. Freshman
Deshon Burgess, who was recently tabbed as the Liberty League Rookie of the Week, totaled seven points and added four rebounds off the bench for Union. The Dutchmen shot 40.6% from the floor on the night.
UC's largest lead was ten points, when it managed a 34-24 advantage with 5:29 to go in the first half of play. After trailing by ten the Dutchmen used a 13-7 run to close out the first half and the score was set at 41-37, in favor of the Pioneers, as the halftime buzzer sounded. Union shot 5-of-7 from the floor in the late first half run and Hython led the push with five points in the stretch. Union started the second half by tying the score on two occasions, at 41-41 and 43-43, but an 18-10 run by the home squad in the next 9:39 of the contest helped the Pioneers earn an eight point lead, 61-53, with 7:45 to play.
Union has one more game before its semester break and the Dutchmen will return home to the Viniar Athletic Center to host Southern Vermont College at 7 p.m. on Thursday night.
