UTICA, NY - The Utica University men's basketball team returns home this week for a two game homestand. The team will take on the Ithaca College Bombers on Wednesday, November 20 at 6pm before taking on the Morrisville Mustangs on Saturday, November 23 at 3pm.
Follow Along: Live video for both matchups can be found here, and live stats for both matchups can be found here.
Last Time Out: Leading the way for the Pioneers against SUNY Potsdam was Hagen Foley (Albany, NY/Christian Brothers Academy) who led the offense with 18 points on flawless shooting (6-6 FG, 1-1 3PT, 5-6 FT), along with six rebounds and a block. Seidina Doukoure (Bronx, NY/The Macduffie School) delivered a well-rounded game with 16 points and 8 rebounds, consistently dominating the boards. Ethan Rivers (Madison, NY/Madison Central) contributed 11 points, adding energy with three offensive rebounds and two steals, while Levi Spina (Frankfort, NY/Frankfort Schuyler) scored 11 points, going a perfect 4-4 from the free-throw line. Jordan Cain (Syracuse, NY/West Genesee) and Damien Call (Rome, NY/Rome Free Academy) added valuable depth off the bench, combining for 14 points and eight rebounds.
Defense Against the Dark Arts: As a team, the Pioneers have out rebounded opponents on the defensive side of the ball by 12, hauling in 107 defensive rebounds so far this season. The team's total rebounds are a mark good enough for third in the conference. Utica is also third in the conference in blocked shots with 11, averaging 2.75 blocks per game. The Pioneers have also swiped 28 steals, a mark good enough for third in the conference with an average of seven steals per game. Liam Teague (Guilderland, NY/Guilderland) is the top rebounder on the team hauling in 25 total rebounds. Damien Call (Rome, NY/Rome Free Academy) is right behind Teague with 24. Seidina Doukoure (Bronx, NY/The Macduffie School) has recorded 23 total rebounds. Teague also holds the team lead with five in both blocks and steals. Call, Hagen Foley (Albany, NY/Christian Brothers Academy), and Levi Spina (Frankfort, NY/Frankfort Schuyler) have each recorded four steals. The Pioneers lock down defense has been able to hold opponents to only a 23.7 shooting percentage from beyond the arc this season.
Floor It: Seidina Doukoure (Bronx, NY/The Macduffie School) currently leads both the team and the conference in field goal shooting percentage, shooting 80 percent from the floor. Damien Call (Rome, NY/Rome Free Academy) has also been dominant on offense for the Pioneers, clocking a 51.4 shooting percentage from the floor, and holds the team lead in three point field goal percentage with 50 percent of his shots hitting from beyond the arc. Hagen Foley (Albany, NY/Christian Brothers Academy) has clocked in with a 51.3 shooting percentage from the floor so far this season, and is currently second on the team with a 46.2 three point field goal percentage. Off the bench, Ethan Rivers (Madison, NY/Madison Central) has made use of his time on the floor, netting 50 percent of his attempts from the floor so far this season. On average this season as a team, the Pioneers are putting up 76.75 points per game, compared to the average of 63 points per game allowed to opponents.
Breaking Down the Bombers: The Ithaca College Bombers have opened its 2024-25 campaign up at 2-1, with its only loss to Babson College, who appeared in the NCAA tournament last season, but would fall to Oswego in the opening round. The Bombers defeated Rowan University in the team's season opener after Rowan made its third straight trip to the NCAA tournament last season, eventually falling in the third round of the tournament to Hampden-Sydney. As a team, the Bombers have been shooting 38.8 percent from the floor, and Logan Wendell has been the team's top scorer, averaging 19.3 points per game this season. Chris Leysath is the team's biggest threat inside, holding the team's lead in field goal percentage with 55.6 percent of his shots falling. Leysath has also been the team's top rebounder, hauling in 22 total rebounds. Evan Cabral currently holds the team lead in the assist column, dishing out seven assists. Jaylon O'Neal holds the team lead in steals, swiping six. All time, the Pioneers are 27-31 against the Bombers, and 15-11 when at home. In the last 10 meetings between these two teams, the Pioneers are 7-3. Last season, the Pioneers took the matchup by a score of 82-71.
More About The Mustangs: The Morrisville Mustangs have opened its 2024-25 campaign with a record of 2-1, with the team's only loss coming against fellow Empire 8 Conference member Houghton University. As a team, the Mustangs have been shooting 43.5 percent from the floor, and 28.6 percent from beyond the arc. Jacob Works is currently the team's leading scorer, nabbing on average 18 points per game. Works has shot just under 49 percent from inside, which is good enough for the team lead. Nokio Kennedy is the team's biggest threat from outside, shooting 41.7 percent from beyond the arc. Yvan Fils-Aime is currently the team's top rebounder, hauling in 26 total rebounds, averaging 6.3 defensive rebounds per game. Fils-Aime also holds the team lead in blocks with five. CJ McCullum has managed to nab himself eight steals so far this season, averaging 2.7 steals per game. All time, the Pioneers are 5-3 against the Mustangs, with the Pioneers falling in the team's matchup last season by a score of 85-72. When the Pioneers play host, Utica is 3-1.
Up Next: The Pioneers make the short trip to take on the Hamilton College Continentals. Tip off from Clinton, NY is set for 7pm on Wednesday, December 4.
