UTICA, NY - The Utica University men's basketball team dropped Tuesday night's matchup against the Nazareth Golden Flyers 86 to 74. This loss ends the team's perfect run in conference play as well as their three-game win streak over Nazareth. 
 
Damien Call (Rome, NY/Rome Free Academy) shined in the game, dropping a career-high 30 points along with nine rebounds. The senior was fantastic, shooting 12-19 from the field, beating defenders from inside and out. Griffin Barasa (Clearwater, FL/Calvary Christian) had a great game as well, scoring 12 points with an efficient 7-8 shooting from the free throw line. 
 
Nazareth had three players score 20-plus points as Jaylen Savage had 26, Soloman McFarlane scoring 23, and Logan Blankenberg with 21. This trio combined to shoot 58 percent from the floor. 
 
After being honored with his 1,000 point ball just minutes prior, Justice Brantley (Catskill, NY/Catskill) got the scoring started with a pull-up jumper. Utica would then get off to a 12-4 start early, largely led by Damien Call (Rome, NY/Rome Free Academy) who had seven in this early stretch. 
 
Nazareth's Jaylen Savage would proceed to score five straight to cut this lead down to three. Solomon McFarlane forced three turnovers in open court, resulting in two transition layups for himself and a 15-13 Nazareth lead. 
 
As the first half progressed both teams were trading buckets, with neither able to pull away by more than three until Nazareth opened up a nine point lead with six minutes remaining. Its lead was built from scoring quickly in transition and finding room to operate from the interior.
 
Utica switched up their defensive looks by coming at Nazareth with a full court press and transitioning into a two-three zone. Nazareth had been 0-8 from three at the time and the move on defense allowed Utica to pull back within one thanks to a Luke Bourgault (Troy, NY/LaSalle Institute) three and Call layup. 
 
Call was the go-to option on offense, leading all scorers with 17 first half points. The senior was doing it all, driving to the rim and drilling three shots from beyond the arc. 
 
For Nazareth, Savage and McFarlane had 13 apiece a half, propelling them to a 40-37 lead going into the intermission. 
 
To open the second frame, Utica went right back to the hot hand, as Call sank his fourth three-pointer of the game, tying it at 40. Nazareth answered right back with a pair of threes of its own and a layup bringing the lead to eight. 
 
Utica continued to battle on both ends in what was a highly competitive second half. Thomas Morreale (Whitesboro, NY/Whitesboro) scored five straight points to bring Utica back to within three but Nazareth kept this momentum short-lived with a quick 13-4 run of its own.
 
The Pioneers would fight to claw their way back until the end, managing to get within six at the closest down the stretch before the Golden Flyers closed out the final 4:30 with a six point cushion to claim the 12 point win. 
 
Utica (15-3, 8-1 Empire 8) will hit the road next, traveling to Oneonta, NY for a matchup against Hartwick. Tip-off is set for 7:30 p.m.