Utica, NY- The Utica University men's basketball team stayed perfect in Empire 8 play as it defeated the Russell Sage Gators by a score of 95-66 in the Real Men Wear Pink Breast Cancer Awareness game on Saturday evening. The win puts the Pioneers at 11-0 in conference play while the team remains two games ahead of Nazareth for first place. 
 
The Pioneers were a juggernaut all game as 16 players got their names in the box score, including four of them having double digits. Utica was led by their leading scorer on the season, senior Justice Brantley (Catskill, NY/Catskill), who continued his breakout campaign putting up 19 points, five rebounds and four assists. Thomas Morreale (Whitesboro, NY/Whitesboro) had 15 points and six rebounds, and guards Darius Hopkins (Tampa, FL/Seffner Christian) and Dayion Thompson (Beacon, NY/Kimball Union Academy) had 10 points apiece on a combined 61.5 percent shooting from the field. 
 
Utica found themselves down early as the Gators came out hot getting off to a 9-4 lead. After that the Pioneers flip switched. Freshman Dayion Thompson (Beacon, NY/Kimball Union Academy) made an instant impact off the bench, making two beautiful passes leading to Morreale layups for a 15-14 lead. A few minutes later, Morreale had a highlight of his own. After almost making his defender fall, he got to the rim and threw it down on a Sage defender for the three-point play opportunity. After completing the three-point play the score was 20-14 in favor of the Pioneers. 
 
The Pioneers continued their masterclass as they were getting it done in transition and in the paint. Utica outscored Sage 14-2 in fast break points to go along with a 26-10 point advantage in the paint to help go into the break up 45-24.
 
The second half was all Utica as the team opened the fresh frame on an 11-0 run to extend its lead to 32 points. A plethora of players got an opportunity in the showcase, including freshman Ryan McCardle (Hurley, NY/Kingston) who scored a career-high eight points. The Pioneers led by as many as 45 in the second half in route to the victory.
 
Utica (16-2, 11-0 Empire 8) looks to continue its historic season when the team hosts No. 23 Nazareth College in a crucial matchup on Tuesday night at 7:30 p.m.