The Wildcats (1-2) jumped out to a 14-7 lead early in the first half behind three Erik Sauer (Phoenix/Pennellville) field goals. UC took its second lead of the game when Dennis Munch (West Babylon/West Babylon) grabbed one of his three steals and laid it in as the Pioneers went ahead 17-16.
Doug Herring (Poughkeepsie/Poughkeepsie), who was recently named Empire 8 Conference Player of the Week, knocked down a 3-pointer to give UC a 30-25 lead right before the half. Herring totaled 12 points and seven boards on the night.
Sauer led the Wildcats with 17 points and six rebounds, while center Steven Zavackis (Carthage/Carthage) scored 11 points on 5-of-8 shooting.
UC slowly pulled away in the second half behind Brian Collier’s (Norwich/Norwich) game-high 17 points, including 3-of-6 shooting from behind the arc. Jack Lighthall (Adirondack/Boonville) tallied 11 points and four rebounds, while Chris Bittetto (Island Trees/Levittown) provided a spark off the bench with eight points and four assists.
Jamaal Webster (SUNY Cobleskill/Liverpool) tallied seven points in 27 minutes of work for Caz, while Peter Marshall (West Genesee/Werners) and Joel Hughes (Onandaga CC/Syracuse) came off the bench and combined for eight points and six boards.
All-American Ray Bryant (Manhattan Center/Utica) had a quiet night with 10 boards, five points and four assists. Sophomore big man James McClendon (Our Lady of Lourdes/Poughkeepsie) scored nine points on 3-of-5 shooting from the floor and freshman Patrick Goodman (Whitesboro/Marcy) scored six points and grabbed five rebounds.
The Pioneers (3-0) return to action on November 28 when they travel to Hamilton College. Tip-off is scheduled for 7 p.m. The Wildcats return to action at 8 p.m. on November 29 when they travel to Hobart College.
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Newspaper Box Score CAZ-MBB vs Utica College 11-20-06 7 p.m. at Utica, NY (Clark Athletic Center) At Utica, NY (Clark Athletic Center) UTICA COLLEGE 79, CAZ-MBB 54 CAZ-MBB (1-2) Sauer, Erik 6-12 4-5 17; Zavackis, Steven 5-8 1-2 11; Webster, Jamaal 3-11 0-0 7; Hughes, Joel 2-5 0-1 4; Marshall, Peter 2-3 0-0 4; Latendress, Eric 2-11 0-0 4; Harris, Stephen 1-10 0-0 3; Locorini, Nick 1-1 0-0 2; Winans, Joshua 1-11 0-1 2; Pallone, Joe 0-1 0-0 0; Sutherland, Adrian 0-2 0-0 0. Totals 23-75 5-9 54. UTICA COLLEGE (3-0) Brian Collier 6-10 2-2 17; Doug Herring 5-14 1-2 12; Jack Lighthall 5-8 1-2 11; James McClendon 3-5 3-4 9; Chris Bitetto 4-7 0-0 8; Patrick Goodman 2-7 2-2 6; Ray Bryant 2-7 1-3 5; Robert Whyte 2-3 0-0 4; Andrew Preston 1-2 0-0 2; Dennis Munch 1-2 0-0 2; Kafele Flemming 1-3 0-0 2; Shaun Diaz 0-1 1-2 1. Totals 32-69 11-17 79. CAZ-MBB....................... 25 29 - 54 Utica College................. 32 47 - 79 3-point goals-CAZ-MBB 3-17 (Webster, Jamaal 1-4; Harris, Stephen 1-5; Sauer, Erik 1-3; Latendress, Eric 0-3; Winans, Joshua 0-1; Pallone, Joe 0-1), Utica College 4-16 (Brian Collier 3-6; Doug Herring 1-4; Chris Bitetto 0-1; Patrick Goodman 0-3; Ray Bryant 0-2). Fouled out--CAZ-MBB-None, Utica College-None. Rebounds-CAZ-MBB 35 (Zavackis, Steven 6; Sauer, Erik 6), Utica College 56 (Ray Bryant 10). Assists-CAZ-MBB 13 (Winans, Joshua 7), Utica College 24 (Brian Collier 5). Total fouls-CAZ-MBB 13, Utica College 16. A-224