UTICA, N.Y. – The St. John Fisher College men's basketball team had its three-game winning streak snapped on Friday night as the Cardinals fell to Utica College, 68-66, inside Clark Gymnasium in an Empire 8 contest.  With the loss, Fisher closed out the day at 10-5 overall and suffered its first loss in conference play to move to 5-1.  Utica improved to 8-7, 2-4, respectively.

After falling behind by six courtesy of back-to-back 3-pointers by the Pioneers, Fisher clawed its way back with a 12-0 run that featured 11 points from senior Ryan Henderson to make it a 12-6 affair. 

The lead remained firmly in the Cardinals' hands and would grow to eight points with 5:34 left to play before intermission, but the Pioneers found their footing and reeled off 19 of the game's next 23 points including three consecutive shots from downtown to pull ahead, 33-26.  Fisher got two points back with a pair of free throws by Dylan Harrington, but Utica's run continued as the Pioneers hit a shot at the buzzer to take a 35-28 lead and the momentum into the halftime break.

As both teams regrouped, Utica would continue to push the pace and built an 11-point cushion, 43-32, just three minutes into the second half.  As time ticked down, Fisher went on the offensive and scored 11 of the game's next 15 points capped off by a dunk from Henderson to pull to within four points, but Utica answered with back-to-back shots from behind the arc to extend its advantage back to double-digits. 

The momentum, however, would shift quickly as Fisher put together seven unanswered points including five from Henderson to make it a three-point contest, 53-50.  The host responded with another shot from distance, but it did little to slow Fisher's progress.  Trailing by six, the Cardinals notched seven straight points to take their first lead of the half, 57-56.  The advantage would change hands again as Utica built a five-point margin only to see Fisher battle back to tie the game at 66-66 with 3:00 to play.

Offense would come at a premium over the final minutes of the game as Utica jumped ahead with a pair of free throws.  Fisher had one final chance to tie the game or take the lead, but the shot sailed wide as Utica handed the Cardinals their first conference loss of the season, 68-66.

Henderson led all players with a game-high 25 points to go along with six rebounds and two assists.  James Leone finished with his second double-double of the season with 11 points and 11 boards while Matt Asenjo chipped in with 10 points.  Harrington added nine points overall off the bench.

Fisher will be back in action at 7:30 p.m. on Tuesday when it hosts Nazareth College in the annual Battle of the Beaks inside Manning and Napier Varsity Gymnasium on Bobby Wanzer Court.