UTICA, N.Y. – The St. John Fisher University men's basketball team were on the road on Tuesday to take on Utica University. The two Empire 8 teams played a thrilling game that came down to the wire, but it was the Pioneers that came out on the winning end, with the Cardinals falling by a final score of 82-81.
 
Fisher fell behind by as many as 14 points in the first half, but a pair of free-throws by Jack Foley and buckets by Brendan McRoy and Daniel Cook, brought the deficit down to eight with 6:14 to play. Going into half time, the Cardinals trailed 39-32. Coming out of the break, Fisher continued their comeback with layups by Cook and McRoy cutting the deficit to just three in the opening five minutes. With 10:13 to play, Akinlana Popoola reclaimed the lead for Fisher with a layup that put the team in front 56-55. Down the stretch Popoola knocked down a jump shot to bring the score to 80-78. Cook attempted to draw a foul, but despite hitting the circus three-pointer the team fell 82-81.
 
Cook scored 25 points on 9-for-15 shooting. Foley and Connor Recore each added 14 points, with Recore securing the double-double with ten rebounds.
 
Up next for Fisher is a Battle of the Beaks on Saturday, Jan. 20. The contest against Nazareth University is scheduled for a 7 p.m. start time.

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