ELMIRA, NY - For the second consecutive season and the second time in program history, the Utica University men's basketball team clinched the Empire 8 regular season title after a 73-59 win at Elmira College on Saturday. The team will now have home court advantage throughout the Empire 8 Conference Tournament.
The team also recorded its 20th win of the season, making it the third time in program history and second time in as many seasons Utica has reached that mark.
Five Pioneers recorded double figures in points led by
Thomas Morreale (Whitesboro, NY/Whitesboro), who finished the afternoon with a 13 point, 10 rebound double-double. The senior also added three blocks and two steals to his line.
Damien Call (Rome, NY/Rome Free Academy) and
Luke Bourgault (Troy, NY/LaSalle Institute) each just missed double-double performances as Bourgault went for 13 points and nine rebounds while Call had 10 points and eight boards.
Justice Brantley (Catskill, NY/Catskill) totaled 13 points in the win while
Dayion Thompson (Beacon, NY/Kimball Union Academy) provided 11 and a pair of steals off the bench.
Utica opened the game up on a Morreale three and never looked back from there as the team went wire-to-wire. Elmira kept it close early on as the team stayed within 10 points nearly the whole half. With the score 22-19 Utica and 2:30 to play in the half, the Pioneers went on a 10-0 run, which was fueled by six Brantley points, to end the half up 32-19.
The Pioneers carried momentum over from the end of the first half through the second half as the team found themselves ahead by 26 points, 54-28, with 10 minutes to go in the game. Utica remained at least a 20 point lead from 13:54 until under four minutes to play before ultimately leaving Elmira with a 13 point victory.
Utica (20-3, 15-1 Empire 8) will return home for the final weekend of the regular season. The team will host Medaille University at 7:30 p.m. on February 17 before honoring its seniors prior to its 4 p.m. matchup against Houghton University on February 18.
