Story Created:
Jan 24, 2010 at 8:05 PM EST
Story Updated:
Jan 24, 2010 at 8:15 PM EST
UTICA, N.Y. - The Utica College men's basketball team rallied from a seven point halftime deficit but fell just short, 61-60, against visiting Alfred University on Sunday. Utica senior forward Patrick Goodman netted a game-high 29 points and snagged nine rebounds, while Will Abrams added ten points, three rebounds and two steals.
Trailing by just one point with 1:35 to go in the contest - the Pioneers (6-10, 1-6 E8) were able to hold the Saxons (7-8, 1-6 E8) scoreless on four straight possessions but they shot 0-for-5 from the field on the offense end and the clock expired with the Pioneers losing 61-60.
In the first half, Alfred jumped out to a 10-3 lead in the first 6:34 of play after Ron Smith knocked down a 3-pointer at 13:26. Smith finished the day with 13 points. Utica answered with an 8-2 run to cut the Saxons lead to one point, 12-11, with ten minutes to go in the half.
The Saxons responded with a 7-1 run to regain a seven point lead with 8:31 to go in the half. Alfred was able to preserve that lead for the final eight minutes and entered the lock room with a 37-30 lead at halftime.
Utica opened the second half on a 9-0 run to take a two point lead, 39-37, 2:55 into the final 20 minutes of play. The next 4:31 featured three ties until the Saxons went on a 5-0 run to take a 52-47 lead with 11:21 to go in the game.
The Pioneers were able to regain the lead after a three point play by sophomore guard Evan Taylor gave Utica a 58-56 advantage with 3:48 to go in the game. On the next possession Smith knocked down a 3-pointer to give Alfred a one point lead. Goodman was able to give Utica the lead back with a layup with 1:52 to go in the game before a layup by Jared Patt gave the Saxons the lead for good with 1:35 to go.
Taylor finished the day with eight points off the bench for Utica, while Andrew Preston and James Patterson each added four points.
Patt scored a team-high 14 points for Alfred, while Mike Stopera added 11 points and three assists.
Utica returns to action on Friday when they host RIT in conference play at 8 p.m.
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The Utica College women's basketball team improved to 13-3 overall and 6-1 in conference play after a 49-40 victory over visiting Alfred University Sunday afternoon. The Pioneer defense held the Saxons to 20 points in each half and caused 19 turnovers. Sophomore guard Katie McGee led the way for Utica with 17 points, three assists and three steals.
Utica has won three in a row and eight of its last nine games. The Saxons overall record dropped to 7-9 including a 1-6 ledger in the Empire 8.
The Pioneers extended their first half lead to as many as seven points, 12-5, after a 5-0 run over the course of 2:32 midway through the half. Alfred answered immediately with a 10-3 run to knot the score at 15-15 with 6:57 to go in the half. UC responded with an 8-0 run behind two 3-pointers from McGee. The Saxons managed to keep the game tight by closing the gap to three points, 23-20, at the half.
Alfred opened the second half with a 6-0 run to take a three point lead just over three minutes into the half. The Pioneer defense turned it on from that point and held the Saxons to just four points in the next 10:18 of play en route to extending their lead to seven, 37-30, with 8:06 to go in the game.
The Pioneers lead would dwindle to three with 5:41 to go but they were able to answer back and eventually earn the nine point victory.
Junior forward Jessica Berry was held to just eight points and she also grabbed nine rebounds. Freshman Meghan Fiore added seven points and three rebounds off the bench.
Lyndsay Murphy paved the way for Alfred with a team-high 15 points and eight rebounds. Courtney Lincoln registered eight points and snagged four rebounds.
Utica returns to action on Friday when they host RIT in a conference game at 6 p.m.
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