UTICA, NY - The Utica University men's basketball team and the SUNY Delhi Broncos opened the 2022 Utica University Classic with a bang on Thursday evening. Through a back-and-forth game, it would be the Pioneers who walked away with a 91-91 overtime win over the Broncos. 
 
Over the first 17 minutes of play, neither team had more than a six point lead. That was, until Delhi hit a three-pointer with just over three minutes left in the first half to go ahead 43-34. Utica responded quickly with a Thomas Morreale (Whitesboro, NY/Whitesboro) layup on the ensuing drive followed by free throws off the hands of Justice Brantley (Catskill, NY/Catskill) and Damien Call (Rome, NY/Rome Free Academy), who was making his season debut, to close the gap to 43-40 with 39 seconds left. 
 
Delhi was able to break its near three minute scoring drought while Brantley answered back with a basket with three seconds left as the game entered halftime 45-42 in favor of the Broncos. The first half featured six lead changes and ties while Delhi held a 9:26-7:19 advantage in time ahead. 
 
The second half was just as entertaining as the first half with the teams swapping buckets over the first two minutes before the Pioneers reclaimed a 48-47 lead following free throws by Avery Coston (Kerhonkson, NY/Rondout Valley). However, a quick 5-0 Delhi run put the visiting team back in the lead by four. 
 
Utica would eventually work its way back to a 57-56 lead with just over 13 to play before the Broncos came back with five straight points for a 61-57 advantage with 11:30 to go. 
 
Brantley, Call and Coston each had a hand in forcing another tie score over a two minute span while Brantley also converted on a layup to put the Pioneers back in the lead at 68-66. The contest stayed within three points throughout the remaining 10:55 of the second half while the game would eventually wind up 76-76 with 2:13 remaining. 
 
A Utica turnover with 1:38 on the clock allowed the Broncos to come down and hit a go-ahead three with 49 seconds to play, leading to a Pioneer timeout. 
 
Following the 30 second break, Brantley missed the tying three while Delhi controlled the rebound and called a timeout of its own. However, Griffin Barasa (Clearwater, FL/Calvary Christian) forced a turnover with 21 ticks left before turning the ball back over the Delhi. A cross court inbound pass went on to result in another Delhi turnover as well, giving the ball back to Utica. 
 
Dayion Thompson (Beacon, NY/Kimball Union Academy) could not convert a game tying three of his own with 18 to play. However, the rebound deflected off of Delhi which allowed Luke Bourgault (Troy, NY/LaSalle Institute) to score off of the inbound with 11 seconds to play and Utica trailing by one. Bourgault was called for a reaching foul, setting up a pair of Broncos free throws to give them an 81-78 lead with eight seconds to go. Thompson took the ensuing inbounds pass down the length of the court and advanced it to Brantley in the near corner and two defenders close on him. Brantley smartly went up with a shot and was fouled on the three point attempt. The senior went on to cash all three free throws to send the game into overtime. 
 
The Pioneers settled in once the extra frame began. Thompson converted on a pair of three throws and a jump shot with a Call dunk sandwiched in the middle as Utica found itself up 87-83 with 3:08 to play. Delhi brought the game back within two points before Call and Thompson contributed to giving the Pioneers a 91-85 edge with under two minutes to play. 
 
The Broncos got back within a pair with 58 seconds to go before Brantley answered back with a pair of free throws to give Utica a four point cushion again. Brantley and Thompson converted on two more free throws each to help the team fend off Delhi. 
 
Brantley set a new career high with 28 points on the night to go with 11 rebounds for his second double-double of the year. He also had a team high three steals and was a perfect 11-for-11 from the charity stripe. Morreale added 17 points and four rebounds while Thompson netted 14 points including 7-for-7 from the free throw line. 
 
In his 2022-23 debut, Call recorded a 12 point, 14 rebound double-double with a pair of high-flying dunks, three blocks and four assists. 
 
As a team, the Pioneers went 30-for-34 from the free throw line while Delhi was a mere 10-for-14.  
 
Utica (7-1, 2-0 Empire 8) will take on the Oswego State Lakers in the Utica University Classic Finals at 3 p.m. on Friday.