UTICA, NY - The Utica University men's basketball team put together a pair of even halves on Friday evening to cruise past the Elmira College Soaring Eagles, 72-53. 
 
Justice Brantley (Catskill, NY/Catskill) and Thomas Morreale (Whitesboro, NY/Whitesboro) led the way with 21 points each for the Pioneers while Dayion Thompson (Beacon, NY/Kimball Union Academy) also reached double figures with 13 points off the bench. Brantley also led the team with nine rebounds followed by Damien Call (Rome, NY/Rome Free Academy) with seven and Morreale with five. 
 
Utica also recorded 12 steals as a team led by Brantley's four, Darius Hopkin's three and a pair from Avery Coston (Kerhonkson, NY/Rondout Valley) and Thompson each. Morreale and Griffin Barasa (Clearwater, FL/Calvary Christian) added a pair of blocks defensively as well. 
 
The Soaring Eagles hung around for much of the first half as Utica's lead never expanded to double-digits. Hanging to a three point lead with under three to play in the first half, Morreale sent the Pioneers to the locker room on a high note with a pair of three's 30 seconds apart for a 38-29 edge. 
 
Morreale went on to score the first five points of the second half and was followed up by a Brantley three to give the team a 17 point cushion and force Elmira into a timeout. 
 
The team led by as many as 25 points with nearly 13:38 to play until the Soaring Eagles scored eight in a row to bring its deficit to 17. However, that is the closest the visitors would get throughout the remainder of the game as Utica cruised to a 19 point win. 
 
Utica (11-2, 6-0 Empire 8) will remain home on Saturday to host Alfred University in a crucial Empire 8 meeting. Tip-off is set for 4 p.m. from Miga Court.