UTICA, NY - The Utica University men's basketball team is set to wrap up its regular season this weekend with home games against Alfred University on Friday, February 16 at 7:30 p.m. and Elmira on Saturday, February 17 at 4 p.m. The program will also honor its seniors with a brief ceremony before the Elmira game on Saturday.
 
Follow Along: Those unable to attend either game can tune in for live video and/or stats here.
 
Last Time Out: The team handled the visiting Keuka College Wolves, 88-70, on Monday evening. With the win the Pioneers eclipsed the 20-win mark for the third consecutive season and also picked up their 13th Empire 8 win to remain in the race for the regular season crown. Five players finished with double-digit points in Hagen Foley (Albany, NY/Christian Brothers Academy) (21 points, 6-9 FG, 4-4 3PT), Luke Bourgault (Troy, NY/LaSalle Institute) (12 points, 4-8 FG), Damien Call (Rome, NY/Rome Free Academy) (11 points, 5-9 FG, seven rebounds), Thomas Morreale (Whitesboro, NY/Whitesboro) (11 points, 4-9 FG), and Liam Teague (Guilderland, NY/Guilderland) (10 points, 4-5 FG). Justice Brantley (Catskill, NY/Catskill) also added eight points and nine rebounds while Ryan McCardle (Hurley, NY/Kingston) served up eight points off the bench on 2-of-3 shooting from three-point. Utica went wire-to-wire in the victory as the team opened the contest on a 15-0 run over the first four minutes of play. The team eventually grew its lead to 27 points by the end of the frame, taking a 50-23 lead into halftime. The Pioneers shot the lights out of the ball in the first half, going 53.33 percent from the field (16-30), 46.67 percent from three (7-15) and 11-for-12 from the free-throw line. The Wolves remained competitive in a much improved second half for the team, however, could not trim the deficit to under 20 points. That was, until their final shot of the game which made it an 18 point Utica lead. The Pioneers remained solid from the field, shooting a hair over 50 percent in the second half to keep a comfortable distance. While Keuka outscored Utica 47-38 in the second half, there was too much damage done by the Pioneers for the Wolves to mount any comeback. 
 
The Time is Now: Utica has clinched a postseason berth and can finish no lower than No. 2, earning a first round bye in the E8 Tournament. If Nazareth and Utica both win out and finish 15-1, tie breakers will go as follows: 


 

• Head-to-head (1-1)
• Road record is the same (8-0)
• Regional strength of schedule 

 
Regional SOS will be updated this week but as of Feb. 4, Nazareth was .490, Utica, .463. If that stays the same, Nazareth would be the No. 1, Utica, No. 2. If both finish 14-2, Utica would be the No. 1, Nazareth No. 2, as Utica would have finished 2-0 vs. third place St. John Fisher, Nazareth 1-1. If Utica loses twice this weekend, Nazareth would be the No. 1. If Utica wins out and Nazareth loses to Fisher, Utica would be the No. 1, Nazareth No. 2.
 
Relentless Finisher: Justice Brantley (Catskill, NY/Catskill) turned in another stellar week that was highlighted by another 30 point outing with five rebounds, one assist, and one steal in the team's conference victory over Keuka. Against St. John Fisher he scored 20 points, three rebounds, and three assists and hit some clutch shots late in the second half to propel the Pioneers to a crucial road win. On Monday night the graduate student had eight points, nine rebounds, and two steals in just 20 minutes in the team's rout of Keuka.
 
Sharpshooter: Hagen Foley (Albany, NY/Christian Brothers Academy) turned in a fantastic performance against Keuka on Monday, February 12 dropping 21 points with five boards and four assists with an impressive 6-for-9 from the field and perfect 4-for-4 from deep. The junior now has the most made three-pointers on the team with 27 and continues to shoot at a gaudy clip of .60 percent this season.
 
Heating Up: The duo of Thomas Morreale (Whitesboro, NY/Whitesboro) and Luke Bourgault (Troy, NY/LaSalle Institute) have been heating up over the last few games and played a major role in the team's victories. Morreale has reached double figures in four-straight games and has been a menace defensively with five blocks and four steals over the past two outings. Bourgault has dropped more than 11 points in three-straight appearances and is shooting .60 percent from the field and .42 percent from three-point range over the last three outings. 
 
Scouting Alfred: The Saxons are currently 11-12 with an 8-6 Empire 8 record and have clinched a postseason berth and can finish as fourth or as low as fifth. The team will clash with Utica on Friday, February 16 and wrap up its regular season against Keuka on Saturday, February 17. Tyler Hind and Adam Enders each average at least 12.3 points per game with the latter being one of the best perimeter threats in the conference with 56 made three-pointers this season and a .346 three-point percentage. Franlys Valenzuela is a double-double machine averaging 11 points per game and 11.3 rebounds per game which is the top mark in the Empire 8. Casey Curran and Oscar Wolter are two more fine scorers each averaging at least 10 points per game with at least 17 made three-pointers made this season.
 
Looking at the Soaring Eagles: The Soaring Eagles are currently 9-14 and 5-9 in conference play and have clinched a postseason berth and can finish as high as fifth and as low as seventh. The team will clash with Keuka on Friday, February 16 and wrap up its regular season against Utica on Saturday, February 17. The team is led by Tyler Cardello who is one of the top scorers in the conference averaging 20 points per game while shooting .341 percent from deep. Riley Spencer and JJ Babcock are two more great scoring options with each averaging at least 10.1 points per game with the latter being the team's top rebounder averaging seven per game. Babcock is also the team's top defender with 15 steals and 26 blocks on the season and is a great interior presence defensively. 
 
Up Next: Utica has earned a first round bye of the Empire 8 Tournament and will host a Semifinal game on Thursday, February 22 with the time and opponent to be determined.