UTICA, NY - The Utica University men's basketball team is set to begin a packed week beginning with hosting St. John Fisher University on Tuesday, January 16 at 7:30 p.m. The team will then travel to battle Elmira College on Friday, January 19 at 7:30 p.m. and conclude the road trip against Alfred University on Saturday, January 20 at 4 p.m.
 
Follow Along: Those unable to attend Tuesday's game can tune in for live video and/or stats here. Elmira will provide live video and/or stats here with Alfred providing live video and/or stats here.
 
Last Time Out: Regulation was not enough for two of the top Empire 8 teams over the past few seasons as the Utica University men's basketball team used a strong second half to force overtime against the Nazareth University Golden Flyers on January 9. In the end, the Pioneers capped off their strong second half comeback to win the overtime thriller, 77-75. Damien Call (Rome, NY/Rome Free Academy) recorded his second straight and fourth total double-double of the season with 19 points (6-13 FG, 6-7 FT) and 10 rebounds. Justice Brantley (Catskill, NY/Catskill) took over the game in the second half and overtime with 16 points combined to finish with a team high 20 points (8-14 FG) including the game-winning bucket with 23 seconds to go in OT. He also had seven rebounds. Dayion Thompson (Beacon, NY/Kimball Union Academy) also reached double figures with 12 points. Griffin Barasa (Clearwater, FL/Calvary Christian) and Liam Teague (Guilderland, NY/Guilderland) were willing on the boards all night with six apiece. Utica turned a 28 point first half that saw 38.5 percent shooting from the field and 14.3 percent from three into a 41 point second half shooting 53.6 percent from the floor and 42.9 from deep to force an extra frame. The sides paced the first five minutes of play with the largest lead being a five point Utica edge in the early stages. Trailing 13-8 with 14:40 to go in the half, the Golden Flyers went on the first large run of the contest, outsourcing Utica 10-2 in a four minute span to claim an 18-15 lead. Eventually, that first half lead grew to 11 points with two minutes to play before free-throws by Thompson and Teague allowed the team to go into halftime down 37-28. The Pioneers caught fire in the ensuing 20 minutes of play. Trailing 50-39 with 15 minutes to go, points in the paint from Thompson, Call and Hagen Foley (Albany, NY/Christian Brothers Academy) trimmed the Nazareth advantage to five points at 50-45 approaching 11 to go. Not much later trailing 54-49, Teague knocked down a quick jumper and, following a pair of Brantley free-throws, a game-tying three-point shot with under nine to play. Neither team created much separation from there until a Foley three-pointer with under two minutes to go gave the Pioneers their first lead of the half. Refusing to back down, Jack Broderick and Luke Insley willed the Golden Flyers back in front, 69-67, with under 30 seconds to play. With backs to the wall now, the ball went to Call inside who drew a foul on the floor to set up a one-and-one. The Rome, NY product cashed in on both attempts to even the score. With time running out, Insley attempted the game-winner for Nazareth but to avail as the game moved into overtime. In the extra frame, Foley and Jalen Savage traded layups early on while a pair of Brantley free-throws propelled Utica back into the lead at 73-71 with three minutes on the clock. Once again, Broderick took the game into his own hands and evened the score at 73 all with two to play. Luke Bourgault (Troy, NY/LaSalle Institute) capitalized on an open lane to the rim and kissed the ball off the glass for two, regaining the lead for Utica at 75-73. With 1:20 to go in OT, Barasa was called for a reach to send Jordan Haggard to the line for two shots. Haggard went on to hit both, tying the game at 75. The ensuing possession resulted in a Pioneer turnover however, Utica forced Nazareth into one of its own to take over on offense with 42 seconds on the clock. Commanding the offense, Brantley created space in the paint for a turnaround jump shot that hit nothing but net for the 77-75 lead. A missed Nazareth layup on its next trip down the court forced the team to foul Thompson, who came up with the rebound on the miss. However, Thompson missed the front end of the one-and-one with seven seconds to go, setting up the Golden Flyers for a desperation heave. Pushing the ball down the court, Haggard had a decent look from beyond the arc that went long, bouncing off the back of the iron and back onto the floor to complete the Utica comeback. 
 
Where We Stand: Utica is second in the Empire 8 with a perfect 3-0 conference record thus far. The team continues to be fantastic on both sides of the ball ranking third in the conference averaging 78.3 points per game while clamping down on defense allowing just 67.2 points per game which is the best in the conference. The team's average winning margin of 11.1 points is the only double-digit margin in the Empire 8. Utica's offense continues to be an offensive powerhouse ranking among the league's best in field goal percentage, three-point percentage, free-throw percentage, rebound margin, and turnover margin.
 
Dame Dolla: Damien Call (Rome, NY/Rome Free Academy) recorded his second straight and fourth total double-double of the season with 19 points (6-13 FG, 6-7 FT) and 10 rebounds to help lead the team to an overtime win over Nazareth. The senior was also active defensively leading the team with two steals and one block and was able to turn defense into quick offense on multiple occasions. His 12.7 points per game and 6.9 rebounds per game are both top-three on the squad and are both top-12 marks in the Empire 8.
 
Approaching History: Graduate Student Justice Brantley (Catskill, NY/Catskill) has been a prolific scorer for the Pioneers this season and is averaging 15 points per game which is ninth in the conference and is just 80 points shy of becoming the 18th player in program history to do so. The Catskill, NY native has poured in double-digit scoring in 11 of 12 games this season including scoring over 15 in seven outings. He has also impacted the game in various aspects hauling in 5.9 rebounds per game and has swiped 17 steals thus far.
 
Grab Your Popcorn: Utica vs Fisher has become must see TV over the past few seasons with Utica boasting a 4-2 record over the last six appearances. The last three matches have all been decided by single digits with the last two being decided by five or less. The Pioneers have done well at home winning two of the last three games and look to keep that momentum going in front of The Herd and Pioneer faithful.
 
Fisher Preview: The Cardinals are 10-5 this season and boast a perfect 6-0 record in conference play which has them first in the Empire 8. The team topped Houghton University in its last outing 84-73 on Friday, January 12. Daniel Cook is the conference's second leading scorer pouring in 20.4 points per game and his 9.9 rebounds per game also rank second. The trio of Brendan McRoy, Jack Foley, and Connor Recore are three more reliable scorers with each averaging over 10.5 points per game. Foley is a fine deep range shooter shooting at a .474 clip which is the top mark in the conference with a remarkable 36 made three-pointers made. Cook is the league leader with 20 blocks and 32 steals and will be the premier defender for Fisher.
 
Scouting Elmira: The Soaring Eagles are 7-8 thus far and boast a 3-3 Empire 8 record which has them tied for fifth in the standings. The team is in the midst of a three-game winning streak after routing Hartwick 93-74 in its last outing on Saturday, January 13. Tyler Cardello is the conference's top scorer averaging 21.7 points per game while shooting an effective .386 from behind the arc. Riley Spencer and JJ Babock are two more reliable threats with each averaging at least 11.8 points per game. Spencer is a three-point machine converting a ridiculous 39 three-pointers with a fine .402 clip from beyond the arc which ranks second in the Empire 8. Babcock is a fine defender swatting 15 shots this season which is third in the conference and will be patrolling the paint.
 
Looking at Alfred: The Saxons are 6-9 this season and hold a 3-3 conference record which has them tied with Elmira for fifth in the standings. The team topped Russell Sage College 70-60 in its last outing on Saturday, January 13 and will face Keuka College before clashing with Utica on Saturday, January 20. The team has a very balanced scoring attack with Adam Enders, Franlys Valenzuela, and Casey Curran, and Oscar Wolter each averaging more than 9.7 points per game. Enders is a fine three-point shooter with 35 made three pointers this season good enough for a .340 percent from beyond the arc. Valenzuela is the conference's top rebounder corralling 10.5 per game while also adding 10.9 points per game. 

Up Next: The team will return home to host Hartwick College on Tuesday, January 23 at 7:30 p.m.