UTICA, NY - The Utica University men's basketball team topped SUNY Potsdam 86-70 on Friday night in the team's season opener.
 
Dayion Thompson (Beacon, NY/Kimball Union Academy) was phenomenal, dropping 25 points going 6-for-7 from the field including a terrific 4-of-5 from beyond the arc. Thompson also added three rebounds, four assists and two steals and was doing it all for the team. Damien Call (Rome, NY/Rome Free Academy) and Justice Brantley (Catskill, NY/Catskill) were two prime scorers, each pouring in at least 15 points and seven boards and were making their impacts felt.
 
Thomas Morreale (Whitesboro, NY/Whitesboro) and Luke Bourgault (Troy, NY/LaSalle Institute) were also efficient, each adding at least nine points, five rebounds, and one assist in the contest. Utica spread the ball around well scoring 28 points in the paint while capitalizing on turnovers scoring 20 points off them. 
 
The Pioneers were clicking on both sides of the ball with their defense leading to offense in the first half. The team enjoyed a great first half shooting 48.1 percent from the field and 58.3 percent from beyond the arc. The Pioneers had a strong defensive half with five steals and one block in the half. Utica jumped out to a quick 27-18 advantage yet SUNY Potsdam rallied to grab a 30-29 lead with 4:37 left in the half. But the Pioneers offense ended the half strong going on a 7-0 run as a pair of Luke Bourgault (Troy, NY/LaSalle Institute) three pointers helped the team take a 39-35 edge into the half.
 
Utica's offense kept rolling and started the second half on a 6-0 run to extend its lead to 48-35 at the 18:20 mark. The Pioneers were clicking on both sides of the ball with its lead not dipping below 10 for the entirety of the second half. Utica started to pour it on in the waning moments of the game extending its lead to over 20 holding a 71-50 advantage. The Pioneers continued the parade and won the game 86-70.
 
Utica (1-0, 0-0 Empire 8) will travel to face Morrisville State College on Tuesday, November 14 at 7 p.m.