UTICA, NY - The Utica College men's basketball team returns to action on Wednesday and Thursday as the team is set to host the Utica Holiday Classic. The Pioneers will take on Alfred State College on Wednesday at 4 p.m. before playing the Williams College Ephs at 2 p.m. on Thursday.
 
Follow Along: Fans can follow along with live stats and/or watch via live stream for both games through https://bit.ly/2wtxUV5. 
 
Last Time Out: The Utica College men's basketball team held off Hamilton College for a 69-65 win in its home opener back on December 4. The Pioneers shot lights-out in the first half connecting on 63 percent of field goals and 54.5 percent of three-pointers throughout the opening 20 minutes. After UC jumped out to a 9-0 lead, Hamilton answered with seven straight points out of a timeout before a Kobe Lufkin (Argyle, NY/Argyle) bucket stopped the continentals 7-0 run. With just over nine minutes to go in the first period with Utica ahead 23-15, the Pioneers began to heat up as the team went on a 16-0 run in three minutes to take a convincing 39-15 lead. In the closing 30 seconds of the half, Thomas Morreale (Whitesboro, NY/Whitesboro) nailed a three that gave UC a 44-23 lead entering the break. In the second period Hamilton would not surrender easily. The Continentals opened the half on an 8-0 run to turn a 21 point deficit into 13 with 17 minutes left. With the teams going back-and-forth over the next six minutes, Avery Coston (Kerhonkson, NY/Rondout Valley) converted a crucial four-point play to put the Pioneers up 51-36 with just under 11:30 remaining. With the score 59-43 in favor of Utica with 7:30 to play, Hamilton began to inch within striking distance. From the 7:29 mark until 2:16 left, the continentals got within five points of the Pioneers with the score 62-57. Darius Hopkins (Tampa, FL/Seffner Christian), Lufkin and Morreale were able to convert on the free throw line just enough down the stretch to hold off Hamilton's comeback effort. Morreale led the team with 21 points and also ended with six rebounds, two steals and one block and assist. Lufkin netted 15 points on 6-for-11 shooting and was the only other Pioneers to record double digits in points. He also had a team high eight rebounds. Chris Green (White Plains, NY/Alexander Hamilton) added nine points while Coston scored eight off the bench. 
 
The Field: Utica was originally set to host Alfred State and Penn State Behrend for its two games however, Penn St. Behrend chose to opt out of the classic last week which allowed SUNY Poly to join the field. Williams College also replaced Keystone College in the event. The new schedule is as follows: 
 
DAY 1 - Dec 29
Alfred State @ Utica College - 4:00
Williams College @ SUNY Poly (hosted by Poly) - 5:00
 
DAY 2 - Dec 30
Williams College @ Utica College - 2:00
Alfred State @ SUNY Poly (hosted by Poly) - 2:00
 
Looking to Stay Hot: At 5-1 overall, Utica is tied for 41st in the country with an 83.3 winning percentage. If the Pioneers defeat Alfred St. and Williams the team will match its best start to a season since 2005-06 at 7-1. The 2005-2006 team went on to the Division III Sweet Sixteen where it fell to St. John Fisher. 
 
This Guy is Pretty Good, Huh?: Thomas Morreale (Whitesboro, NY/Whitesboro) has kept his name amongst the most consistent players in the Empire 8 for much of his three-year career at Utica. The junior is currently second in the E8 averaging 19.2 points per game while his 66.7 field goal percentage and 68.0 three-point percentage both not only lead the conference, but are 11th and first in Division III as well. Aside from being the best three-point shooter in DIII up to this point, Morreale has been the best rebounder on the team coming away with 6.2 boards per game. Although Morreale has put up these numbers through just six games, he shows no signs of slowing down. 
 
The Grass is Greener Here: Through five games Chris Green (White Plains, NY/Alexander Hamilton) has done a little bit of everything for the Pioneers. The senior ranks within the top-three on the team in points per game (10.4), rebounds per game (4.4), minutes per game (30.4), assists per game (2.8), steals per game (1.9) and free throw percentage (73.7%). His steals per game and assists per game averages are both within the top-10 in the Empire 8 as well. After a 2020 season in which he was named Second Team All-Conference, Green is priming himself for another postseason of accolades. 
 
About Alfred State: The Alfred St. Pioneers are currently 4-6 overall and have dropped four of its last five games. While the team averages a solid 83 points per game its downfall has undoubtedly been defending the hoop as the Pioneers' 91 points allowed per game is tied for the 12th most out of 410 Division III teams. Josh Reding (15.2 PPG) and Tavion Williams (11.9 PPG) are the only two members of the team averaging double figures in points while Williams is doing so on 49.5 percent field goal shooting. 
 
About Williams: Williams is currently one of eight remaining undefeated teams left in Division III and checked in at 17 in the latest D3hoops.com top 25 Poll. The team isn't necessarily explosive on offense with its 77 points per game but has locked teams down through its first nine games allowing just 60 points per outing. The Ephs are led by Cole Prowitt-Smith who averages 15.8 points per game on 54.7 percent shooting and Nate Karren who comes in averaging 13 points per game on 58.3 percent shooting. 

A Look Ahead: Following the classic, Utica will host crosstown rival SUNY Poly on Monday, January 3 at 6 p.m. This game will serve as the fourth game of a seven-game homestand for UC.