UTICA, NY - The Utica University men's basketball team is set to begin a two-game week traveling to face Nazareth University on Tuesday, January 9 at 7:30 p.m. The team will then host Keuka College on Saturday, January 13 at 4 p.m.
 
Follow Along: Nazareth will provide live video and/or stats here. Those unable to attend Saturday's home game can tune in for live video and/or stats here. 
 
Last Time Out: The team beat Russell Sage College 77-63 last 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.
 
Where We Stand: The Pioneers are currently fourth in the Empire 8 with a 2-0 conference record on the young season. Utica has been lockdown defensively and is the Empire 8's top defensive unit allowing just 66.5 points per game, a mark that is also top-60 nationally. The impressive defense has led to transition buckets and the average winning margin of 11.9 which is the only double-digit margin in the conference. The team's offense continues to be lights out, ranking top-three in field goal percentage and three-point percentage while its free throw percentage ranks first in the E8. A major reason for the Pioneers success is the team's ability to limit turnovers on the offensive end while forcing plenty on the defensive end and converting their fast break opportunities.
 
You Can't Guard DT: Dayion Thompson (Beacon, NY/Kimball Union Academy) was lights-out in the team's lone game this week against Russell Sage College pouring in 24 points, four rebounds, three steals, and one block on an impressive 8-for-12 from the field. The guard took control of the offense and converted a plethora of contested shots while converting multiple-and-ones. The sophomore's impact on both sides of the ball has been injecting energy into the team all season long. Thompson's 13.5 points per game rank 11th in the Empire 8 and rank second on the Pioneers. Utica will lean on the sophomore's nifty playmaking and look to keep the good times rolling.
 
Call That Poetic Justice: The duo of Damien Call (Rome, NY/Rome Free Academy) and Justice Brantley (Catskill, NY/Catskill) have been dominant in multiple aspects and are among some of the best duos in the Empire 8. Both rank top-15 in the conference in points and rebounds per game and are one of the few duos to do so. Brantley is leading the squad with 14.5 points per game and his 5.8 rebounds per game rank second on the team. Call's 12.1 points per game rank third on the Pioneers and leads the team with 6.6 rebounds per game. Utica looks to keep getting top production from these two as the team competes in conference play.
 
Scouting Naz: The Golden Flyers are 7-5 this season and are tied for first in the Empire 8 with a perfect 4-0 conference record thus far. The team beat Alfred University 76-58 in its last outing on Saturday, January 6. Logan Blankenberg leads the unit with 16.0 points per game with Jordan Haggard and Jaylen Savage each averaging more than 11.8 points per game. Blankenberg is the team's top rebounder hauling in 8.6 rebounds per game while also leading the squad with nine blocks. Tyler Putney is the team's top perimeter threat with 30 three-pointers made this season and his .400 three-point percentage ranks fifth in the Empire 8. Blankenberg is another perimeter threat with a .462 three-point percentage and 24 three-pointers made this season. 
 
Looking at Keuka: The Wolves are 5-5 this season and their 3-0 conference record has them in third place in the Empire 8 thus far. The team topped Russell Sage College 78-56 in its last outing on Saturday, January 6 and will clash with St. John Fisher University on Tuesday, January 9 before facing Utica on Saturday, January 13. Devin Milton and Christian Sage are a fantastic scoring duo with each averaging over 17.7 points per game with at least 13 three-pointers made this season. Mason VanDeMortel is another scoring option averaging 11 points per game and is the team's top perimeter threat with 24 three-pointers made and a .343 three point percentage which ranks eighth in the conference. VanDeMortel also leads the team with 10 blocks and 5.4 rebounds per game with Milton, Sage, and Mac Creek all being pesky defenders and racking up at least 12 steals this season.

Up Next: The team will host St. John Fisher University on Tuesday, January 16 at 7:30 p.m.