UTICA, NY - The Utica University men's basketball team is set to host Nazareth University in the Empire 8 Conference Tournament Championship on Saturday, February 24 at 2 p.m.
 
Follow Along: Those unable to attend can tune in for live video and stats here. 
 
Last Time Out: For the second time in three seasons the team will play for the right to be crowned Empire 8 champions. In the same fashion that was the 2021-22 season, the Pioneers defeated the visiting Alfred University Saxons in the Empire 8 Semifinals at home, 70-61. Thomas Morreale (Whitesboro, NY/Whitesboro) shined with a 20 point (7-10 FG, 3-3 3PT), 11 rebound double-double. He added two blocks and two steals to his line as well. Morreale, along with Hagen Foley (Albany, NY/Christian Brothers Academy) (19 points, 7-11 FG, 3-5 3PT), Justice Brantley (Catskill, NY/Catskill) (12 points, 4-9 FG) and Damien Call (Rome, NY/Rome Free Academy) (10 points, 4-6 FG) accounted for 60 of the team's 70 points. Luke Bourgault (Troy, NY/LaSalle Institute) added seven in 29 minutes off the bench. For the Saxons, Tyler Hind dropped 22 points as he willed himself through 38 minutes of play. Franlys Valenzuela recorded a 12 point, 15 rebound double-double in the losing effort. As a defensive unit, Utica held Alfred to just 35.5 percent shooting from the floor and 23.1 percent from beyond the arc. The Saxons did, however, dominate the boards as the visitors out-rebounded the Pioneers 39-29. Hind accounted for 16 of Alfred's 28 first half points while Foley, Morreale and Brantley had 10 apiece for 30 of Utica's 39. The Pioneers couldn't have asked for a better start to the game as Alfred began the opening 7:45 0-for-11 from the floor. Utica, taking full advantage, jumped out to a 15-0 lead with Morreale and Foley combining for 12 points. Alfred would get its first two points on the charity stripe before chipping away to make it a 15-9 game with 10:48 left in the first. Over the ensuing seven minutes, the Pioneers regained complete control as they upped their advantage to 19 points at 34-15. The run was fueled by the local duo of Call and Morreale while Foley and Brantley hit some timely jumpers to keep the pressure on Alfred. However, the Saxons held Utica to just two points over the final four minutes of play while Hind led Alfred back to within eight points at the half at 36-28. The sides traded blows to open up the second half but despite Utica keeping pace, a pair of Alfred three's turned it into a 44-43 game in favor of Utica with 14:22 to go. That moment would signal as close as the Saxons would come throughout the rest of the contest. A layup by Call followed by back-to-back buckets by Foley created some breathing room for the Pioneers while Morreale and Bourgault would later combine for seven points in a stretch to put the team ahead 60-50 with 6:30 to play. While the Saxons came back within six points with 5:30 to go, Morreale connected for back-to-back three-pointers to essentially put the game out of reach. The Pioneers put the finishing touches on the contest from the free-throw line to advance to the 2023-24 Empire 8 Championship. 
 
Tournament Info:  The 2023-24 Empire 8 Men's Basketball Championship begins on Tuesday, Feb. 20 with first round action before semifinal action takes place at top-seed Utica University and No. 2 seed Nazareth University on Thursday, Feb. 22 and championship action takes place on Saturday, Feb. 24 at the site of the highest remaining seed. No. 3 seed St. John Fisher University defeated No. 6 Houghton University, 79-65, on Tuesday in the first round while No. 4 seed Keuka College fell to visiting No. 5 Alfred University, 80-60. No. 1 Utica topped No. 5 Alfred 70-61 in the first semifinal with No. 2 Nazareth beating No. 3 St. John Fisher 92-85 in the other semifinal. Top seeded Utica will host No. 2 seed Nazareth in the Empire 8 Championship on Saturday, February 24 at 2 p.m. in Utica, NY. The league champion receives an automatic berth into the 2024 NCAA Division III Men's Basketball Championship, which begins March 1-2.
 
Admission Info: Admission for the Championship Game will be $6 for adults, students and seniors with ID are $4, and children under 12 are free. Utica University students with a Utica University ID will be granted free admission.
 
Playoff History: Utica has made 13 Empire 8 Conference Tournament appearances including three-straight as the one seed. The Pioneers last won the E8 Championship in Spring 2021 as the team topped St. John Fisher, 89-65. Utica is 1-2 against Nazareth in the Empire 8 Conference Tournament with the Pioneers beating the Golden Flyers 69-59 in the Spring 2021 Semifinals.
 
Streaking: Utica has been on a tear winning eight-straight games and 18 of its last 19 games. The team has been outscoring its opponents by an average of 10.8 points per game which is tied for the league lead. The Pioneers last three regular season wins have all been by more than 17 points and the team is in top-shape playing elite defense paired with great shooting at the perfect time. The Pioneers kept their momentum going with a nine point victory over Alfred in the Empire 8 Semifinals on Thursday night. 
 
Consistency is Key: Luke Bourgault (Troy, NY/LaSalle Institute) had a great week helping guide the team to the one seed in the upcoming Empire 8 Conference Tournament. The senior was consistent to conclude the regular season, dropping at least 12 points in all three games while recording at least five boards in his last two outings. Over the course of the week he amassed 44 points, 12 rebounds, six assists, and three steals while shooting a deadly 8-for-13 from deep throughout the week. He followed this up with seven points while playing elite defense and rejecting a pair of shots.
 
Balanced Attack: The team has a very balanced offense with five players averaging at least 8.6 points per game. Justice Brantley (Catskill, NY/Catskill) leads the way averaging 16.7 points per game which is sixth in the conference with Damien Call (Rome, NY/Rome Free Academy) averaging 14.1 points per game which ranks 12th. The trio of Thomas Morreale (Whitesboro, NY/Whitesboro), Hagen Foley (Albany, NY/Christian Brothers Academy), and Luke Bourgault (Troy, NY/LaSalle Institute) are three consistent scorers each averaging at least 8.5 points per game while all shooting at least 36 percent from beyond the arc helping stretch the floor.
 
Need a Hand?: Griffin Barasa (Clearwater, FL/Calvary Christian) has been fantastic at setting up the offense as of late and shined against Alfred University on Friday, February 16 tying his career-high with six assists. The junior has also turned it up defensively with six steals in his last three outings and is putting the clamps on opposing guards. In the E8 Semifinals Barasa held Alfred's leading scorer Adam Enders to just five points and 1-for-5 from deep.
 
Scouting Naz: Nazareth is led by Logan Blankenberg who is one of the conference's top scorers averaging 17.7 points per game and shooting nearly 45 percent from deep with over 50 made triples this season. Jordan Haggard and Jaylen Savage are two more fantastic scorers with each averaging at least 13 points per game and Haggard being another deep threat with 33 made triples. Blankenberg and Savage are two strong defenders with each swiping at least 26 steals.
 
Series Outlook: Utica and Nazareth split the season series 1-1 with Utica beating Nazareth 77-75 in overtime on January 9 with the Golden Flyers winning 86-74 on the road on January 30.
 
Up Next: With a win the Pioneers will head to the NCAA Division III Tournament with the field being released on the selection show which will air Monday, February 26th at 1 p.m.on NCAA.com. A link to the show will be on the front page of NCAA.com.