Utica, NY – The Utica College men's basketball team topped Cazenovia by a score of 115-81 Friday night to advance to 2-1 on the season. The Pioneers exploded from 3-point land in this one, netting 17 threes on the night.
 
This game was back and forth early on, as the score was 21-all at the 12:28 mark. Junior guard Kobe Lufkin (Argyle, NY/Argyle) started an 8-0 run on one of his five 3s, and freshman forward Thomas Morreale (Whitesboro, NY/Whitesboro) capped off the run on a jumper to lead the Pioneers to their largest lead of the game (29-21) with 11:02 to play in the half.
 
This was all UC needed, as it would hold the lead for the rest of the game. The Pioneers went into halftime with a 55-38 lead, and they outscored the Wildcats 60-43 in the second half to secure their first home victory of the season in front of a packed crowd at Miga Court.
 
Lufkin and senior forward Hunter Remley (Cranford, NJ/Cranford) led the air raid of threes throughout the night, converting on a combined 11 shots from behind the arc. Remley posted a game-high six 3-pointers, shooting a perfect 6-of-6 from 3-point land, while Lufkin added five. Both Lufkin and Remley finished with a game-high 21 points.
 
Freshman forward Christopher Bamba (Kingston, NY/Kingston) had a breakout performance in his collegiate debut, posting 11 points while adding four rebounds. The Kingston native also ignited the loudest eruption from the crowd all night when he weaved through defenders and threw down a rim-rocking dunk with 8:04 left to play in the game. 
 
Freshman point guard DJ Harter (Holland Patent, NY/Holland Patent) also impressed in his collegiate debut, as he notched seven points on one 3-pointer and two baskets.
 
Sophomores Justin Worth (Catskill, NY/Catskill) and Chris Green (White Plains, NY/Alexander Hamilton), along with freshmen Shemar Franklin (Laurelton Queens, NY/Holy Cross) and Huasly Paredes (Fort Lee, NJ/Fort Lee), also netted their first points of the season this evening.
 
Freshman Brett Talbert (Deer Park, NY/Knox School) and sophomore Darius Hopkins (Tampa, FL/Seffner Christian) had big nights as well, adding 12 points in the effort. Junior center Kimedrick Murphy (Hudson, NY/Hudson) continued his stellar post play, swatting a game-high five blocks while adding eight rebounds in the process.
 
Overall the Pioneers finished tonight with more 3-pointers than their first two games combined, and they tabbed an impressive 53.1 shooting percentage from 3-point land.
 
Utica will seek its third win of the season following a short three-day break, as it will travel to face cross-town rival SUNY Poly on Tuesday at 4 p.m.