UTICA, NY - The Utica University men's basketball team will look to remain perfect in Empire 8 play this weekend while opening a four-game homestand. The Pioneers will host the Hartwick College Hawks at 7:30 p.m. on Friday for the team's Coaches vs. Cancer Suits & Sneakers Game before welcoming the Russell Sage College Gators at 4 p.m. on Saturday for their Real Men Wear Pink Breast Cancer Awareness Game.
Follow Along: Those unable to attend either game can keep up with live video and/or stats through
https://portal.stretchinternet.com/utica/.
Last Time Out: There was no shortage of milestones reached for the Utica University men's basketball team in its 77-59 road win over the Medaille University Mavericks last Saturday. With an early first half bucket,
Thomas Morreale (Whitesboro, NY/Whitesboro) became the 17th player in program history to reach 1,000 career points and, with the win, the Pioneers have secured their best start through nine conference games in program history at 9-0. Five players scored in double figures for Utica, led by a season high 18 points from
Damien Call (Rome, NY/Rome Free Academy). Morreale finished the afternoon with 14 followed by
Justice Brantley (Catskill, NY/Catskill) with 12 and both
Dayion Thompson (Beacon, NY/Kimball Union Academy) and
Avery Coston (Kerhonkson, NY/Rondout Valley) with 10. Morreale also led the team with seven rebounds while
Luke Bourgault (Troy, NY/LaSalle Institute), Call and Coston each had over five themselves. As a team, the Pioneers shot over 52 percent from the field while holding Medaille to 37.7 percent as well as 20 percent from three. Utica also forced the Mavericks into committing 11 turnovers while being credited with six steals, four of which coming from Brantley and
Griffin Barasa (Clearwater, FL/Calvary Christian) combined. Utica's only deficits in the game came in the early stages in 2-0 and 4-2 scores which lasted a combined one minute. With the score 4-4, the Pioneers went on a 16-1 run to take a convincing 20-5 lead. Its 15 point lead would last until halftime as the team went into the break up 35-20. The Pioneers eventually grew its lead to 30 points midway through the second half after a pair of successful Coston free throws. The Mavericks chipped away throughout the remainder of the game to bring its deficit under 20 points while Utica ultimately pulled away with an 18 point win.
Coaches vs. Cancer: Utica will take part in Coaches vs. Cancer week with its Suits and Sneakers Game on January 27 against Hartwick College and with its Real Men Wear Pink Breast Cancer Awareness Game on January 28 against Russell Sage College. Donations can be made through
https://bit.ly/3YBEe8a while the link can also be found at the top of any page at uticapioneers.com. All funds raised support cancer patient programs and groundbreaking research that can help save lives. This event also celebrates over 15.5 million cancer survivors nationwide. During the games this weekend, Utica SAAC will help run a 50/50 drawing as well as provide a bucket toss to raise funding for cancer research.
One of 17: Thomas Morreale (Whitesboro, NY/Whitesboro) accomplished a feat that only 16 others in program history have done before him: reach 1,000 career points. Morreale reached 1,000 career points in just 74 career games while not even a handful of others did so quicker than he did. Morreale becomes the third Pioneers in the last two seasons to record their 1,000th career point as he joins former teammate
Kobe Lufkin (Argyle, NY/Argyle) and teammate
Darius Hopkins (Tampa, FL/Seffner Christian), who is approaching fifth all-time on the program scorers list. After his 14 point outing at Medaille, Morreale sits 15th all-time in program history with 1,013 career points.
Historic First Half: After a strong weekend, Utica has broken its program record of Empire 8 wins to start a season. The team is now 9-0 in conference play which tops the previous program record of 8-0 which was set during the 2006-07 season. The team is currently second in the conference in scoring averaging 81.5 points per game, and third in defense averaging 69.5 points per game. The team is tenth in NCAA Division III in turnovers per game at just 10.3 and its ball security has been phenomenal and a major reason for the team's success.
Heating Up: Luke Bourgault (Troy, NY/LaSalle Institute) has found his stroke over his last five games, especially from beyond the arc. The junior has averaged nearly seven points per contest over the last six games including a season-high 14 against Alfred on January 14. Since Utica's game at Keuka on January 7, Bourgault is shooting 10-for-17 from three-point range while also having shot 7-for-10 from three over his last three games.
About Hartwick: The Hawks will travel to Utica with a 4-11 overall record and a 3-6 record in E8 play, good enough for sixth place in the league. The team dropped its last match against Hartwick 89-56 on Saturday, January 21. Hartwick is led by Bobby Connors, Samuel Prosper, and Cooper Francis who all average more than 10 points per game. Connors is a ravenous rebounder averaging 8.9 rebounds per game and is also a viable shooter with a .395 three-point percentage. Prosper is the team's top perimeter scorer holding a .426 shooting percentage from beyond the arc. Francis is another scoring option and has a knack for hauling in rebounds and getting to the charity stripe. The team also features Kevin Felasco and Anthony Girard who are both wing players and shooting over .306 from three-point range.
Scouting Sage: The Gators currently find themselves sporting a 3-13 overall record while sitting at 1-8 in conference play. Prior to traveling to Utica on Saturday, which will end the team's four-game road trip, Sage will travel to Keuka on Friday. Sage lost a tough battle to St. John Fisher in its last outing on Saturday, January 21 80-71. The Gators are led by a duo of scorers as Noah Girard and Jackson Brown both average more than 13 points per game while shooting above .34 percent from beyond the arc. Ryan Long is another perimeter threat shooting over .40 percent from beyond the arc. Todd Williamson and Blake Decker are viable big men who crash the glass well and provide the team second chance points.
Up Next: Utica will continue its homestand with a rematch against the No. 23 Nazareth College Golden Flyers on Tuesday, January 31. Tip-off from Miga Court is set for 7:30 p.m.
