UTICA, NY - Through a closely contested game, the Utica College men's basketball team was able to keep control of the Russell Sage Gators over the course of the contest for a 65-58 win to improve to 7-1 in Empire 8 play. 
 
The Gators came out with a spark over the first two minutes of the game, jumping out to a 6-0 lead with just over 18 to play in the first. The Pioneers responded with a quick 14-3 run with six of the points coming from guard Chris Green (White Plains, NY/Alexander Hamilton). However, the biggest bucket of the run came from a Kobe Lufkin (Argyle, NY/Argyle) layup to make it a 14-9 game. The basket marked the 1,000th point of Lufkin's career. 
 
From Lufkin's milestone bucket and on, Utica never trailed in the game again. Darius Hopkins (Tampa, FL/Seffner Christian) netted 10 of the next 21 Pioneer points to close the half with the team ahead 35-30. In the second frame, UC remained in control however, Sage never let its deficit crawl to more than nine points until three minutes remaining in the game. It was then that Lufkin buried a three and Chris Green (White Plains, NY/Alexander Hamilton) came back with a breakaway layup to put the Pioneers ahead 62-49. While Sage came back within six points with 16 seconds left, Avery Coston (Kerhonkson, NY/Rondout Valley) was able to connect on a free throw to put the game away and move UC to 13-3 overall and 7-1 in conference action.  
 
Hopkins led the team with 17 points on 50 percent shooting. Thomas Morreale (Whitesboro, NY/Whitesboro) stuffed his stat line with a 15 point, 10 rebound double-double in his second game back from injury. Coston produced 11 points, three assists and two boards off the bench while Green also wound up with double digits in points with 11. 
 
UC (13-3, 7-1 Empire 8) will look to avenge its loss to SUNY Poly from earlier this season when the team takes on the Wildcats on the road on Tuesday. Tip-off is set for 7 p.m.