ALBANY, N.Y. – Russell Sage College hosted Utica College on Tuesday night in an Empire 8 Conference battle. The visiting Pioneers posted a 66-61 win to snap the Gators' two-game win streak. RSC is now 8-6 overall with a 2-3 mark in the league, while the Pioneers improve to 10-3 overall with a 4-1 record in the Empire 8.
Utica held a 37-23 lead at the break and fought off a late game charge by the Gators. RSC pulled within three points twice in the final minute. The first time at 0:42 as senior guard Amani Cummings (Brooklyn, NY/Transit Tech) had a field goal to make the score Utica, 62-59. Senior forward/center Stuart Phair (Canberra, Australia/Tyler Christian School), who was named the E8 Player of the Week on Monday, made a pair of free throws with just 0:06 left to play making it Utica 64-61. The Gators fouled senior guard Darius Hopkins (Tampa, FL/Seffner Christian) with just three seconds left and he made both ends of the one and one to give the Pioneers a 66-61 victory.
For the game, Cummings led the Gators with his 16 points, while senior guard Tyler Mitchell (Bronx, NY/All Hallows) contributed 15 points with seven boards. Phair finished with 10 points, five rebounds, and a blocked shot for the Gators.
Senior guard Tyler Mitchell (Bronx, NY/All Hallows) added 15 points with seven rebounds. Senior forward/center Fethener Aime (Palm Coast, FL/Flagler Palm Coast) led the Gators in rebounding with nine boards to go with his eight points. Amie checks in 16th in career rebounding with 252 caroms, while standing 11th with 35 blocks.
Senior guard Jalon Borders (Bartow, FL/Bartow) chipped in with eight points and five assists for the Gators as they shot 82.4% from the free throw line, converting 14-of-17 free throws.
Utica's senior guard Chris Green (White Plains, NY/Alexander Hamilton) had 15 points, while senior center Kimedrick Murphy (Hudson, NY/Hudson) had a double-double with his 13 points and 13rebounds. She had eight offensive rebounds with two assists and a blocked shot. Hopkins finished with 11 points with four assists and four steals for the Pioneers. Senior forward Avery Coston (Kerhonkson, NY/Roundout Valley) added 10 points with six rebounds for Utica as they had a 41-37 edge on the boards.
Looking ahead, the Gators host Keuka on Friday at 7:30 p.m. on January 21.
Notes: Senior forward/center Stuart Phair (Canberra, Australia/Tyler Christian School), who currently ranks second in program records for career blocks with 83, was named the Empire 8 Conference Player of the Week on Monday...He averaged 12.5 points on 60.0% shooting and 8.0 rebounds in the 2-0 week...The Gators have 10 players back in the fold this year…Senior guard Jalon Borders (Bartow, FL/Bartow), a two-time first-team All-Empire 8 Conference pick, headlines the group…He passed Jeff Stopera '14 for fifth on the program's career points chart on December 2 vs. SUNY Cobleskill…Next on the list for the senior guard, now with 925 points, is Melvin Ford '16 with 973…Phair and senior forward Jason Geronimo (Orlando, FL/Colonial) are captains on the year's team…Geronimo currently ranks seventh in school records with 381 career rebounds…Head Coach Brian Barnes, now in his 13th season, added four players to the program.
#SageNation