PITTSFORD, N.Y. – For the second consecutive season, the second-seeded St. John Fisher College men's basketball team advanced in the Empire 8 Championship after the Cardinals defeated third-seeded Utica College, 81-68, on Friday inside Kidera Gymnasium.  With the win, Fisher improved to 18-8 on the season while the Pioneers concluded their 2019-20 season at 18-8.

The Cardinals will move on to the Empire 8 Championship finale at 4 p.m. on Saturday where they'll meet rival Nazareth College for the conference crown and a berth into the NCAA Division III Championship next weekend.  Fisher defeated the Golden Flyers last weekend in its regular season finale.

After holding a 15-point cushion following the first half of play, the Cardinals pushed their lead to 17 to begin the second period when Dennis Hare drove and kissed it off the glass for make it 46-29 in Fisher's favor. 

Trailing by double figures and plenty of time to work with, Utica would turn the tides as the Pioneers used an 11-2 run including nine unanswered to pull to within eight points, 48-40, with just two minutes having ticked off the clock.

Holding an eight-point lead, Fisher would get one back at the free throw line, but the Pioneers continued to apply the pressure and scored 11 consecutive points over a six minute stretch to take their first lead since the 10-minute mark of the first half.

With the Pioneers ahead by one possession, the Cardinals would regain control as Hare converted an old-fashioned 3-point play to make it 53-51, but Utica countered again with five quick points to capture a 56-53 margin.

Behind by three, the Cardinals quickly turned the tables as head coach Mike Grosodonia II's group orchestrated a 14-2 run that featured eight points from Hare to open up a nine-point edge, 67-58, with just over four minutes remaining in the contest.

With time running short, Utica would cut the gap to seven, but seemed to run out of steam down the stretch as the Cardinals pushed their lead back to double figures with back-to-back jumpers from Sammy Robinson and James Leone. 

Ahead by 11, the Pioneers would knock down four free throws to make it a seven-point affair, but the Cardinals went 6-for-6 at the charity stripe over the final 38 seconds to ice the win and move on in the tournament.

Hare poured in a game-high 22 points in the win after going 7-for-12 from the field and 8-for-9 from the line.  The senior captured five rebounds, handed out three assists and came away with two steals in 33 minutes.  Robinson finished with 16 points and four rebounds while Leone added 15 points and grabbed seven boards.  Mark Valeriani netted 11 points off the bench and Matt Asenjo finished with nine points.

As a team, Fisher was 27-for-58 from the floor and went 19-of-23 from the free throw line.