UTICA, NY - The Utica University men's basketball team fell to the Oswego State Lakers 79-59 on Friday afternoon in the Utica University Classic Finals. 
 
Justice Brantley (Catskill, NY/Catskill) put together his third consecutive 20 point outing with a team best 21 points on 7-for-18 shooting from the floor as well as 6-for-7 from the charity stripe. He also added nine boards and a steal to his line. Thomas Morreale (Whitesboro, NY/Whitesboro) led Utica with 12 rebounds and two blocks to go with nine points. Dayion Thompson (Beacon, NY/Kimball Union Academy) netted 16 for the Pioneers while Luke Bourgault (Troy, NY/LaSalle Institute) added eight points in his first start with the team. 
 
As a team, Utica shot 33.8 from the field and 20 percent from three. 
 
The Lakers had four double-digit scores in Devin Green (18), Jeremiah Sparks (18), Cartier Bowman (16) and Ahkee Achille (10). In all, Oswego shot just under 51 percent from the floor and scored 19 points on fast breaks with the help of 11 steals. 
 
Utica started the game ahead 10-6 before Oswego found a rhythm. From 15:19 until the end of the first, the Pioneers were outscored 33-19 as the team trailed 39-29 entering the break. 
 
Although Oswego grew its lead to 18 points through the first three minutes of the second half, Utica battled back. Brantley, Morreale and Thompson played key parts in getting the team back within 11 however, the Lakers' effective three-point shooting kept the Pioneers from coming back within single digits. 
 
With the game at 67-56 with 4:21 to play, Oswego ended on a 12-3 run to come out with the win. 
 
Utica (7-2, 2-0 Empire 8) will return to action on Tuesday, January 3 when the team welcomes St. John Fisher University. Tip-off from Miga Court is set for 7:30 p.m.