The Pioneers, who are in first place in the Empire 8 at 9-1, are now 17-3 overall and have a two game lead in the conference. Elmira drops to 2-18 overall and 1-8 in conference with the loss.
UC rocketed out to a 10-2 lead at 17:27 in the first half behind three pointers from sophomore guard Doug Herring (Poughkeepsie/Poughkeepsie) and Collier, followed by two consecutive Jack Lighthall (Adirondack/Boonville) buckets.
Collier had the hot hand in the first half shooting 4-of-9 from 3-point land, including team-highs of 12 points, six rebounds, and four assists.
The Pioneers stingy defense held the Soaring Eagles to just five first half field goals and UC took a commanding 38-18 lead into the half.
Elmira cut the lead to 15 (47-22) on a lay-up by freshman forward Palen Andreozzi with 17:23 left in the second half but that was as close as they would get. Andreozzi finished the night with a team-high 17 points on 8-of-11 shooting from the floor.
Herring scored eight points, grabbed four rebounds, and dished out four assists, while Ray Bryant (Manhattan/Utica) and Dennis Munch (West Babylon/West Babylon) each scored six points off the bench for UC. Bryant also grabbed nine rebounds in just 19 minutes of work.
Freshman classmates Patrick Goodman (Whitesboro/Marcy) and Robert Whyte (Pequannock Township/Pompton Plains, NJ) combined for 12 points on 4-of-4 shooting from the floor for the Pioneers.
Senior forward Matt Keating scored 11 points for Elmira, while Bryan Mathews was a perfect 4-of-4 from the charity stripe, tallying seven points.
The Pioneers and Soaring Eagles both return to the court next Friday in Empire 8 Conference action. Utica hosts Nazareth College, while Elmira hosts Alfred. Both games begin at 8 p.m.
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