ALFRED, NY - The Utica University men's basketball team used a tremendous second half effort to overcome the Alfred University Saxons 56-52 on Friday evening. 
 
Two Pioneers recorded double figures on the night as Darius Hopkins (Tampa, FL/Seffner Christian) netted 12 (4-10 FG, 4-4 FT) and Justice Brantley (Catskill, NY/Catskill) with 11 (4-13 FG, 3-5 FT). Brantley also tied a team best with seven rebounds matched only by Damien Call (Rome, NY/Rome Free Academy). Other top scorers for Utica included Thomas Morreale (Whitesboro, NY/Whitesboro) and Griffin Barasa (Clearwater, FL/Calvary Christian), each of whom with eight, and Avery Coston (Kerhonkson, NY/Rondout Valley) with seven points. 
 
Inside game was a pivotal piece for the Pioneers on the night as the team scored 34 points in the paint while just six points came from beyond the arc. 
 
The Utica defense also held Alfred to shooting under 27 percent from both the field and three-point territory. 
 
The sides remained tight throughout much of the early goings of the half. This was until the Saxons jumped out by six points at 23-17 with 7:49 to go in the first. The Pioneers went down by as many as eight points in the first frame however, a 5-0 run fueled by Coston over the final four minutes brought Utica within three points at halftime. 
 
Although three quick points by Brantley tied the game at 31-31 early in the second, Alfred found its way back to an eight point edge just 1:30 later. In fact, the Saxons remained ahead until the Pioneers went on a 14-2 run from the 12:56 mark until 5:30 to play to take a late 49-41 lead. 
 
The Saxons rallied back to even the score at 49-49 but clutch buckets by Coston and Barasa put the team back in the lead for good to claim yet another critical Empire 8 win. 
 
Utica (19-3, 14-1 Empire 8) will travel to Elmira College for a 4 p.m. game on Saturday for what will be the team's final away game of the regular season.