ROCHESTER, NY - The Utica University men's basketball team pushed past the Springfield College Pride, by a score of 76-69 to advance to the championship game of the Chuck Resler Tournament, hosted by University of Rochester.

Leading the way for the Pioneers was Jordan Cain (Syracuse, NY/West Genesee) who posted a career high 21 points (5-12 FG, 11-16 FT), followed by Liam Teague (Guilderland, NY/Guilderland) (14pts, 7-15 FG). Dayion Thompson (Beacon, NY/Kimball Union Academy) and Ryan McCardle (Hurley, NY/Kingston) each finished in double digit scoring with 11 and 10 points, respectively. Cain led the Pioneers' rebounding efforts with nine on the afternoon, while Ben Wittman (Sherrill, NY/Vernon-Verona-Sherrill) registered six off the bench, and Keyaton Parks (Albany, NY/Green Tech High Charter) nabbed five. Teague added to his afternoon with a team high three assists, while Cain, McCardle, and Griffin Barasa (Clearwater, FL/Calvary Christian) each tallied a pair. On defense, Barasa and Thompson each nabbed a pair of steals, while Whitman registered a pair of blocks. 

Utica struck first, getting a jumper from Parks and a layup from Cain. From there the Pioneers took control of the opening stretch, ripping off a 10–0 run powered almost entirely by Cain with back-to-back three-point plays at the rim pushed the margin to 12–2. Utica kept Springfield at arm's length the rest of the half, with Teague and Ben Wittman (Sherrill, NY/Vernon-Verona-Sherrill) scoring inside and Iggy Izevbuwa (Staten Island, NY/Port Richmond High School) and Zyon Lord (Bronx, NY/Salisbury School) adding paint touches as the lead stretched as large as 13. Springfield hung around behind threes and free throws, trimming it to single digits late, but another Teague jumper and a Cain drive in the final minute sent Utica into the locker room up 39–28.

Springfield came out of the break opening the second half on a 10–0 run. The Pioneers answered with a mini-run of their own with Cain's free throws and a fast-break finish from Griffin Barasa (Clearwater, FL/Calvary Christian) rebuilt a two-possession cushion, and a series of drives by Dayion Thompson (Beacon, NY/Kimball Union Academy), Barasa and Wittman kept Utica in front, even as Springfield kept within striking distance. The Pride finally drew level at 51–51 with just over 12 minutes left, then again at 55–55 and 57–57, but never took the lead. McCardle became the late-game spark, scoring on a layup to push it to 59–57 and later drilling a three to make it 62–57. Springfield closed back to 68–67 with just over four minutes remaining, but Teague answered with a key driving bucket, and McCardle buried a dagger three from the wing to make it 73–67 with 39 seconds left. Cain and Thompson closed it out at the line, knocking down four free throws in the final 30 seconds to secure Utica's 76–69 win.

Utica (2-0, 0-0 Empire 8) will take on the winner of Rochester/Buffalo State in the Championship game of the Chuck Resler Tournament. Tip off from Rochester, NY is set for 6pm.