ALBANY, NY - Backed by career highs in points by Justice Brantley (Catskill, NY/Catskill) and Dayion Thompson (Beacon, NY/Kimball Union Academy), the Utica University men's basketball team cruised to a 85-66 Empire 8-opening win at Russell Sage College on Friday night. 
 
Although the Pioneers found themselves pulling away late in the game, the Sage Gators remained within single digits for the entirety of the first half. From the opening tip-off through seven minutes into the contest, the sides exchanged leads or tied nine times. 
 
With Sage ahead 14-13 early on, a Thompson three-pointer put Utica ahead 16-14 while from there, the Pioneers never looked back. 
 
A couple quick buckets by Darius Hopkins (Tampa, FL/Seffner Christian) and Thompson helped put the team up 24-18 with just under 10 to play in the first. The likes of Thompson, Brantley and Griffin Barasa (Clearwater, FL/Calvary Christian) on offense propelled Utica to a slight 36-28 edge at halftime. 
 
Utica shook off an off-kiltered 35.9 percent field goal shooting in the first half to go 22-for-38 from the field over the final 20 minutes of play. The team grew its lead to as many as 27 points in the half while never allowing Sage to threaten its lead in the 19 point victory. 
 
Brantley's career high 22 points came on 9-for-13 shooting from the floor while he also topped the team with eight rebounds. For Thompson, he set a career best with 21 points on 9-for-18 shooting in just his fourth career game. He was also second on the team behind Brantley with seven boards. 
 
Hopkins also finished with double figures in points for the Pioneers, totaling 14 on 60 percent shooting from the field (6-for-10) to go with three rebounds and a pair of assists and steals each. 
 
Utica (4-0, 1-0 Empire 8) will travel to Oneonta, NY on Saturday as the team takes on Hartwick College at 4 p.m.