UTICA, NY - Coming off of a crushing loss to SUNY poly on Monday, the Utica College men's basketball team answered with an impressive 88-46 win over the Elmira College Soaring Eagles to begin league play. 
 
Utica led for all but 44 seconds in the game as it only trailed Elmira 3-2 and 5-4 in the opening stages of the game. The Pioneers shot the lights out of the ball all throughout the first half, going 19-for-35 from the field and 11-for-19 from three-point range to carry a 51-19 lead into the break. UC held at least a 20-point lead from the 8:27 mark in the first half all the way until the conclusion of the game. 
 
The Pioneers didn't let up in the second half, shooting another 57 percent from the field and 40 percent from three over the game's final 20 minutes. Justice Brantley (Catskill, NY/Catskill) had a big second half off the bench as a part of his 11-point performance in just his second game back this season. Eight of his 11 points came in the second half while the junior shot 4-for-6 from the field in all. 
 
Kobe Lufkin (Argyle, NY/Argyle) led the team with 19 points on 6-for-9 shooting from the field and 5-for-7 from three. He also added three boards, two assists and a steal. Thomas Morreale (Whitesboro, NY/Whitesboro) totaled a 17-point, 10 rebound double-double in his 27 minutes of action while also adding two blocks down low on defense. 
 
Chris Green (White Plains, NY/Alexander Hamilton) added 12 points while Darius Hopkins (Tampa, FL/Seffner Christian) wound up with 10 points. Center Kimedrick Murphy (Hudson, NY/Hudson) led the team with eight assists while the big man also put four points up on the scoreboard. 
 
UC (7-2, 1-0 Empire 8) returns to action at home on Tuesday against Hartwick College. Tip-off from Miga Court is at 7:30 p.m.