UTICA, NY - The Utica University men's basketball team fell in its final contest of the 2024 slate to the Hobart College Statesmen on Monday afternoon. The Pioneers would fall to its final non-conference opponent by a score of 77-66. 
 
Leading the way for the Pioneers was Dayion Thompson (Beacon, NY/Kimball Union Academy) who recorded a monster 17 points (5-15 FG0, 4-9 3PT, 3-3 FT) in just the second half of the contest. Thompson would add one assist, one block, and one steal to his stat line for the afternoon. Damien Call (Rome, NY/Rome Free Academy) continued to be a presence for the Pioneers, leading all Pioneer rebounders with nine total rebounds, recording six assists on the day, and tallied two blocks and one steal. Liam Teague (Guilderland, NY/Guilderland) was everywhere for Utica, tallying nine points (4-9 FG, 1-4 3PT) with seven total boards. Teague was a force on defense, recording a career high four blocked shots. Ethan Rivers (Madison, NY/Madison Central) put together a solid outing off the bench, with eight points (3-6 FG, 1-2 3PT, 1-2 FT) and swiping two steals. 
 
The first half would see the Statesmen get out to an early two possession lead, with Utica unable to get on the board. A three from Call would put the Pioneers on the board with just over a minute and a half gone in the opening frame. The Statesmen would be able to hold the Pioneers and grow its lead to double digits before Levi Spina (Frankfort, NY/Frankfort Schuyler) would find the net for Utica. The teams would trade points, but the Statesmen would continue to grow its lead and dominate possession to get its lead up to as much as 16 with just over half of the opening frame remaining. The Pioneers would be able to cut the lead down to 10 with eight and a half minutes left with a three courtesy of Neruda Perdomo (New York, NY/Kimball Union Academy). Despite the offensive efforts from Teague and Jordan Cain (Syracuse, NY/West Genesee) late, the Pioneers would head into the break with a 13 point deficit at 42-29. 
 
Coming out of the break, Utica would be able to find its footing, going on a 14-0 run in less than three and a half minutes. Thompson would be able to drop three straight three-point baskets in the timeframe, cutting the deficit to single digits with just under eight minutes to go in the half for the first time since just under three minutes had elapsed in the opening frame. Poised for a comeback, the Pioneer momentum would come to a screeching halt, with Hobart going on a 10-4 run to bring the lead back to 16 in favor of the Statesmen. Utica would be unable to hold on, closing out the matchup by a score of 77-66. 
 
Utica (6-3, 0-0 Empire 8) returns to action in the new year by opening Empire 8 Conference play. Tip off from Miga Court inside the Clark Athletic Center on Tuesday, January 7 against conference newcomer SUNY Brockport is set for 7:30pm