BUFFALO, NY - The Utica University men's basketball team topped Buffalo State 86-57 on Friday evening.
 
It was a very balanced scoring attack with 14 players scoring at least three points. Hagen Foley (Albany, NY/Christain Brothers Academy) and Justice Brantley (Catskill, NY/Catskill) each led the team with 11 points while each hauling in five boards. Dayion Thompson (Beacon, NY/Kimball Union Academy) poured in eight points with five rebounds, four assists and three steals. Thomas Morreale (Whitesboro, NY/Whitesboro) posted a line of seven points, five rebounds and two assists. Ben Wittman (Sherril, NY/Vernon-Verona-Sherril) was efficient, dropping eight points on 4-for-5 from the field while adding four rebounds and one block.
 
Dayion Thompson (Beacon, NY/Kimball Union Academy) got off to a lightning start recording a steal, rebound, and pair of points in the first 45 seconds of the game to give Utica the early 2-0 edge. The Pioneers held a slim lead, yet Buffalo State used a scoring run to grab its first lead of the contest 9-7 at the 15:53 mark. The teams continued to exchange leads until Utica used a 9-0 scoring run to propel itself to a 25-16 advantage with just under eight minutes left in the first half. Ben Wittman (Sherril, NY/Vernon-Verona-Sherril) was the catalyst scoring four points and corralling a rebound during the run. The Bengals started to claw back, cutting the lead to under four points on four separate occasions, yet Utica finished the half strong and took a 37-30 lead into the break.
 
Buffalo State struck first with a quick layup to begin the second half, yet the Pioneers responded with a Justice Brantley (Catskill, NY/Catskill) three-pointer off a feed from Thomas Morreale (Whitesboro, NY/Whitesboro). The sides exchanged buckets before Utica sparked an incredible 15-1 run to give the team a 55-37 edge with 12:24 remaining in the contest. It was a team effort with Thompson, Morreale, Hagen Foley (Albany, NY/Christain Brothers Academy), Griffin Barasa (Clearwater, FL/Calvary Christian), and Luke Bourgault (Troy, NY/LaSalle Institute) each scoring during the run. The Pioneers continued their dominance in the second half outscoring the Bengals 49-27 and securing an 86-57 victory. 
 
Utica (2-1, 0-0 Empire 8) will return home to host local rival SUNY Poly on Monday, November 20 at 7 p.m.