UTICA, NY - The Utica University basketball team claimed local bragging rights after defeating the SUNY Poly Wildcats on the road 90-53 on Monday evening. 
 
Utica opened up with an 18-8 lead through the first eight minutes of play as the team was in full control early on. However, the Wildcats stormed back with a 13-0 run over a 2:30 span to claim a 21-18 advantage. 
 
From there, it was all Pioneers. 
 
Luke Bourgault (Troy, NY/LaSalle Institute) got the team off the schneid with a pair of free-throws before Avery Coston (Kerhonkson, NY/Rondout Valley) regained the lead for Utica with a layup off of a Griffin Barasa (Clearwater, FL/Calvary Christian) dish. Poly answered back with a quick bucket to even the score at 23-23 before the Pioneers closed the final seven minutes of the first half on a 21-6 run to enter halftime ahead 44-29. 
 
Justice Brantley (Catskill, NY/Catskill) opened the second half red-hot, netting six of the team's first eight points while Empire 8 Rookie of the Week Dayion Thompson (Beacon, NY/Kimball Union Academy) also went off for 10 points in a 4:30 span to help push the team out front 70-39. The Pioneers kept their foot on the gas over the final 10 minutes to cruise away with the win. 
 
Brantley collected a double-double on the night with a team high 19 points on 57.1 percent shooting as well as with a team high 14 rebounds. Thompson totaled 18 points (7-12 FG, 4-5 FT) over 23 minutes of work while Bourgault (12 points, 4-4 FG) and Coston (11 points, 3-4 3PT, 2-2 FT) finished with double-digit points. 
 
Thompson also added five rebounds to his stat line as well as a share of the team lead with two assists and steals each. 
 
Utica (2-0, 0-0 Empire 8) will have a week off before returning home to host Cazenovia College on Monday, November 28. Tip-off is set for 6 p.m. from Miga Court.