UTICA, NY - The Utica University men's basketball team beat Russell Sage College 77-63 on Friday night to remain undefeated in conference play this season.
 
Dayion Thompson (Beacon, NY/Kimball Union Academy) was poetic, pouring in 24 points, four rebounds, three steals, and one block on an impressive 8-for-12 from the field. Damien Call (Rome, NY/Rome Free Academy) continued to do it in all aspects of the game, scoring eight points while corralling 11 boards and dishing out three dimes.
 
Liam Teague (Guilderland, NY/Guilderland) notched a career-high 12 points and added four rebounds and two blocks. Hagen Foley (Albany, NY/Christian Brothers Academy) dropped nine points while snatching six boards. The team was great defensively with six blocks as Teague led the squad with two with Justice Brantley (Catskill, NY/Catskill), Griffin Barasa (Clearwater, FL/Calvary Christian), Thompson, and Foley each recording one.
 
It was back and forth buckets by both teams to begin the game with Sage holding the early 11-9 edge just over five minutes into the contest. Utica claimed the lead on a tough layup by Thompson which ignited the team as Teague and Luke Bourgault (Troy, NY/LaSalle Institute) then canned triples to push the lead to 21-14 at the 9:08 mark.
 
Sage trimmed the edge to just 21-19 yet Teague splashed another from beyond the arc to aid Utica in taking a 24-19 lead. Yet, the Gators responded with a strong run to gain a slim 28-26 advantage, yet the Pioneers prevailed grabbing a 33-28 lead. Thompson converted an and-one to give Utica a 36-33 edge at the half.
 
Thompson was the team's spark plug with his own five point run to aid the team in grabbing a quick 43-37 lead just over two minutes into the second half. Sage responded, cutting the lead to just four yet the Pioneers offense continued to convert tough baskets with Foley canning a pair of triples during the stretch.
 
The Gators trailed 57-50 halfway through the half but Utica was able to continue its strong defense and get to the rack offensively. The Pioneers started to take off with a nine-point scoring run to grasp a 73-56 edge late in the game. Utica held on for a 77-63 win and collected its second conference win of the young season.
 
Utica (9-2, 2-0 Empire 8) will clash with Nazareth University on Tuesday, January 9 at 7:30 p.m.