UTICA, NY - The Utica University men's basketball team is set to open its home slate this week as the team takes on the Buffalo State Bengals on Wednesday, November 13 with a tipoff slated for 7pm. The team will then travel up north to take on the SUNY Potsdam Bears on Saturday, November 16 at 2pm. 
 
Follow Along: Live video for Wednesday's matchup can be found here, and live stats can be found here. Live video for Saturday's matchup can be found here, and live stats can be found here. 
 
Last Time Out: Leading the way for the Pioneers against RIT was Seidina Doukoure (Bronx, NY/The Macduffie School), who recorded his first double-double as a Pioneer notching 14 points (4-4 FG, 6-8 FT) and hauling in 10 rebounds. Dayion Thompson (Beacon, NY/Kimball Union Academy) also led the Pioneers with 14 points (5-16 FG, 2-4 3PT, 2-2 FT) and hauled in eight rebounds and added three assists. Hagen Foley (Albany, NY/Christian Brothers Academy) also put together another stellar night for Utica notching 13 points (4-11 FG, 2-3 3PT, 3-4 FT) and three assists. Damien Call (Rome, NY/Rome Free Academy) also turned in another double digit point night with 12 (4-11 FG, 1-2 3PT, 3-6 FT), also tallying five boards, three assists, and two steals. 
 
Not Slothing Around: Seidina Doukoure (Bronx, NY/The Macduffie School) recorded his first double double as a Pioneer, netting 14 points and 10 rebounds against RIT. The graduate swingman was perfect from the floor, going 5-5 across two games. Doukoure went 6-8 from the free throw line, and hauled in 11 rebounds in two games. 
 
Playmakers: Damien Call (Rome, NY/Rome Free Academy), Hagen Foley (Albany, NY/Christian Brothers Academy), and Dayion Thompson (Beacon, NY/Kimball Union Academy) put on fantastic showings for the Pioneers in the season opening weekend. Foley recorded 30 points in the opening weekend, shooting 39.1 percent from the floor through the two contests. The senior forward shined from beyond the arc and the free throw line, going 3-6 from three and 9-10 at the line. Foley also brought in eight rebounds, and swiped two steals. Call put together a great defensive outing, hauling in 12 defensive rebounds, two steals and two blocks. Thompson netted 21 points across the weekend, going 2-5 from three, and 9-10 from the free throw line. Thompson hauled in 10 boards and dished out seven assists.  Freshman Jordan Cain (Syracuse, NY/West Genesee) brought in 10 points from off the bench over the weekend. The guard went 3-7 from the floor, 1-2 from three, and 3-4 from the line. Cain also recorded a block and a steal against RIT. 
 
Scouting the Bengals: The Buffalo State Bengals have split its opening weekend, going 1-1. Bryce Williams has been the team's top scorer, netting 32 points in the team's openers, shooting 42.9 percent from the floor. Nate Severson has been the one in charge outside the arc for the Bengals, going 7-12 with a 58.3 3PT percentage over the team's two games. Maley McCurty has been the team's top rebounder, hauling in 15 boards, averaging 7.5 rebounds per game. Zee Johnson has been a pain in offenses' side, registering four steals in two games for the Bengals. As a team the Bengals have only outscored opponents by two points in the team's opening weekend. The Bengals have shot 42.9 percent from the floor, and 73.2 percent from the line. Buffalo State has recorded 24 total turnovers, and have allowed 12 points off turnovers so far this season. As a team, the Bengals have registered 15 steals.
 
Breaking Down the Bears: The SUNY Potsdam Bears have lost both of its opening matchups to begin the season at 0-2. A transfer from Utica, Walter deFreitas (Brooklyn, NY/Xaverian) has been the team's leading scorer, netting 42 points across two games. deFritas has shot 48.5 percent from the floor and 85.7 percent from the free throw line. Parker Kelly and Lawensky Astrel have each shot 50.0 percent from beyond the arc so far this season. Parker Kelly has also been the team's top defender, recording 13 defensive boards in two games and three blocks. Mohammad Sylla has swiped four steals for the Bears. Opponents have outscored the Bears by a 10 point margin in both games this season, despite shooting 40.6 percent from the floor and 78.1 percent from the free throw line, as well as out rebounding the Bears by over 13 boards per game. 
 
Up Next: Utica returns home to take on the Ithaca College Bombers on Wednesday, November 20. Tip off from Miga Court inside the Clark Athletic Center is set for 6pm.