The Pioneers shot out to a 17-3 lead just under five minutes into the contest. All five UC starters tallied at least two points within the first three minutes of play.
SUNYIT hit six 3-pointers over the course of the next six minutes to pull within two points of the Pioneers. The Pioneers were able to maintain the lead and entered the locker rooms at half with a 47-42 lead.
After the Pioneers controlled a good portion of the second half the Wildcats found themselves all tied up at 80-80 when Chris Reeves (Herkimer CC/Syracuse) hit a jumper with just under five minutes remaining. Reeves scored a tournament-high 32 points on 8-of-11 shooting from behind the arc in route to earning All-Tournament status. UC would not let the game slip away and followed with nine straight points to seal the victory.
Jack Lighthall (Adirondack/Boonville) scored ten points and grabbed eight boards to earn All-Tournament team honors, while Ray Bryant (Manhattan Center/Utica) scored 22 points, grabbed eight boards and dished out five assists. Brian Collier (Norwich/Norwich) knocked down a three 3-pointers and scored 14 points, while Chris Bittetto (Island Trees/Levittown) and freshman Patrick Goodman (Whitesboro/Marcy) played intricate roles of the bench. Goodman, a 6-foot-5 forward, displayed great touch from 3-point territory knocking down three, while Bitetto scored some key baskets down the stretch in a 12 point effort. Dennis Munch (West Babylon/West Babylon) grabbed nine rebounds, scored five points and tallied two steals in the win.
UC (2-0) returns to action Monday against visiting Cazenovia at 7 p.m.
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Newspaper Box Score SUNYIT vs Utica College 11-18-06 3 p.m. at Utica, NY (Clark Athletic Center) At Utica, NY (Clark Athletic Center) UTICA COLLEGE 99, SUNYIT 82 SUNYIT (1-1) REAVES, Chris 10-17 4-4 32; LABOARD, Chris 5-13 3-4 14; PLANTE, Chris 4-11 2-2 12; BELONE, Elvis 2-9 4-5 9; GILKES, Antoine 4-9 0-0 8; WHALEN, Pat 2-5 2-4 7. Totals 27-64 15-19 82. UTICA COLLEGE (2-0) Doug Herring 9-18 3-5 23; Ray Bryant 8-17 4-5 22; Brian Collier 4-8 3-4 14; Chris Bitetto 5-7 0-0 12; Jack Lighthall 5-7 0-0 10; Patrick Goodman 3-5 0-0 9; Dennis Munch 1-1 3-5 5; Robert Whyte 1-2 0-0 2; Kafele Flemming 1-3 0-0 2. Totals 37-68 13-19 99. SUNYIT........................ 42 40 - 82 Utica College................. 47 52 - 99 3-point goals-SUNYIT 13-29 (REAVES, Chris 8-11; PLANTE, Chris 2-6; BELONE, Elvis 1-4; WHALEN, Pat 1-2; LABOARD, Chris 1-6), Utica College 12-19 (Brian Collier 3-5; Patrick Goodman 3-3; Doug Herring 2-6; Chris Bitetto 2-2; Ray Bryant 2-3). Fouled out--SUNYIT-None, Utica College-None. Rebounds-SUNYIT 30 (GILKES, Antoine 12), Utica College 44 (Dennis Munch 9). Assists-SUNYIT 12 (REAVES, Chris 5), Utica College 27 (Doug Herring 10). Total fouls-SUNYIT 18, Utica College 16. A-250 Utica College Tip-Off Tournament Finals