Oneonta, NY - The Utica College men's basketball team tabbed its eighth-straight win in an 85-75 victory over the Hartwick Hawks Saturday afternoon.

Hartwick controlled the pace and momentum of this game in the first half, as it held a 46-34 advantage heading into the locker room. The second half completely flipped the script, with the Pioneers outscoring the Hawks 51-29 en route to their eighth-straight W. 

Eight straight wins marks the longest winning streak at Utica since Sean Coffey became the head coach of the program in the 2016-17 season, and is also the best start for the program since the 2006-07 season where the team also sat at 12-2 through 14 games and finished with a 19-7 overall record.

Senior forward Hunter Remley (Cranford, NJ/Cranford) was UC's catalyst all afternoon, posting a season-high 23 points on 6-of-11 shooting from downtown. Six made threes ties Remley's season high, as he also netted six 3-pointers on Nov. 22 against Cazenovia.

Junior center Kimedrick Murphy (Hudson, NY/Hudson) was also a difference-maker, as he posted his third double-double of the season with 10 points and a game-high 12 rebounds.

Three other Pioneers finished scoring in double digits in the come from behind win. Sophomore guard Darius Hopkins (Tampa, FL/Seffner Christian) led this group with 16 points, while both freshman forward Thomas Morreale (Whitesboro, NY/Whitesboro) and junior guard Kobe Lufkin (Argyle, NY/Argyle) matched him with 11 points.

Utica advances to 12-2 with this win, also remaining atop the Empire 8 with a perfect 3-0 record. UC returns home this Friday, as it is set to host the St. John Fisher Cardinals at 5:30 p.m.