UTICA, NY - The Utica University men's basketball team extended its regular season Empire 8 winning streak to 26 games while maintaining a perfect record in league play following its - win over the Keuka College Wolves. 
 
Thomas Morreale (Whitesboro, NY/Whitesboro) dominated Keuka defenders with a game-high 27 points on 8-for-12 from the field and 5-for-8 from three-point. He also had four rebounds and a pair of assists and steals each. Darius Hopkins (Tampa, FL/Seffner Christian) added 19 points while Dayion Thompson (Beacon, NY/Kimball Union Academy) also finished in double figures with 11. Justice Brantley (Catskill, NY/Catskill) came away with a career-high 16 rebounds in the win as well. 
 
Thanks to 50 percent shooting from three (8-for-16), the Wolves found themselves ahead 38-34 at halftime. Through the first 15 minutes of play neither team went ahead by more than four points. The back-and-forth battle was fueled by big halves out of Morreale and Brantley to ensure the game remained within striking distance. 
 
While Morreale continued his offensive attack, Hopkins began to take over as well in the second. The graduate student netted seven points over six minutes with his first three giving Utica a 41-40 lead. However, each time the Pioneers attempted to extend their lead, the Wolves responded right back. 
 
After Keuka went up 46-45 with just under 14 to play, Utica went on a 9-0 run to claim an eight point edge with 11 to go. The Wolves kept it within single digits over the next 10 minutes while the Pioneers never let their opponents make enough of a run to make it a single possession game. Once the Keuka turned to fouls with under a minute to go, that all but sealed the deal as Utica held on to keep its unbeaten record in conference play intact. 
 
Utica (18-2, 13-0 Empire 8) will hit the road on Tuesday to take on St. John Fisher University. Tip-off is set for 7:30 p.m.