After trailing by six at halftime, the Saxons came out of the locker room strong in the second half enjoying a 5-0 run. With just over six seconds remaining in the final period and a two-point deficit, junior guard Quentin Bryant (Buffalo, NY/Seneca Vocational) was fouled on a three-point attempt and knocked down all three of the ensuing free throws.
With three ticks left on the clock, senior forward Tim Troy (Yonkers, NY/Archbishop Stepinac) received the inbound pass down-low for Utica, but had his shot blocked by sophomore forward Ryan Clemenson (Ovid, NY/South Seneca). After gathering the rebound, Troy hit the game winner as time expired.
Sophomore center Dillon Stein (N. Huntington, PA/Norwin) had a big game for AU shooting 70 percent (12-17) from the field to finish with 26 points and eight rebounds. Bryant and Clemenson each added 10 points, while recording two blocked shots and seven boards respectively. Junior Ryan Hallett (Caledonia, NY/Caledonia-Mumford) chipped in with seven points for AU.
Troy finished the game with 14 points and seven rebounds for Utica, while junior guard Justin Cichon (New Hartford, NY/New Hartford) had a team-high 18 points to go along with four boards.
AU men’s basketball will be in action next on Tuesday, Jan. 25, at 8 p.m. home against St. John Fisher College. Utica will host Nazareth on Friday, Jan. 28, at 8 p.m.