UTICA, NY - The Utica University men's basketball team took its home opener in dominant fashion over the Keystone College Giants by a score of 86-69 on Saturday evening. 

Three Pioneers finished with double scoring figures in Liam Teague (Guilderland, NY/Guilderland) (17pts, 5-11 FG, 3-4 3PT), Jordan Cain (Syracuse, NY/West Genesee) (14pts, 5-10 FG, 2-3 3PT, 2-3 FT), and Ryan McCardle (Hurley, NY/Kingston) (14pts, 6-10 Fg, 1-4 3PT, 1-2 FT). Leading the rebounding efforts for the Pioneers was Keyaton Parks (Albany, NY/Green Tech High Charter) who managed to haul in eight boards, followed by Teague and McCardle each with six on the evening. Cain was also able to make plays, design out a team high five assists, while Isaiah Smith (Amsterdam, NY/Schalmont) registered three. Defensively, Cain and McCardle each managed a pair of steals while Joshua Sand (Beekmantown, NY/Beekmantown), Griffin Barasa (Clearwater, FL/Calvary Christian), Jayden Larregre, Teague, and Ben Wittman (Sherrill, NY/Vernon-Verona-Sherrill) each tallied one. Teague added to his outing with a block, while Parks and Jeffrey Manuel (Syracuse, NY/Liverpool) each registered one as well. 

Utica turned what started as a back-and-forth stretch into complete control on both sides of the ball. Teague got the Pioneers going with a driving layup, and Thompson followed with a transition finish. Jordan Cain (Syracuse, NY/West Genesee) then caught fire, drilling a wing three and later converting an and-one to push the advantage to 13–8, with Keyaton Parks (Albany, NY/Green Tech High Charter) powering in a paint bucket in between. Keystone briefly clawed back within one at 14–13, but Utica's defense absolutely locked in from there. From that point, the Pioneers ripped off a 13–0 run to blow the game open. Teague started it with a jumper in the lane, and Jayden Larregue (Briarcliff, NY/Briarcliff) gave Utica a huge spark, scoring at the rim and then buried a three off an Isaiah Smith (Amsterdam, NY/Schalmont) kick-out to stretch it to 22–14. Teague knifed in for another layup and McCardle sprinted out for a transition finish to cap the surge at 26–14. Keystone managed to trim the margin at the line, but Cain drilled another three off a Barasa assist and McCardle hit a jumper plus a late three-point play in transition to send Utica into the break up 36–27 with all the momentum.

The Pioneers came out of halftime and immediately stepped on the gas. Teague opened the second half with a catch-and-shoot three off a Thompson feed to make it 39–27, then after a Keystone bucket, Parks tipped in a miss and Thompson converted a fast-break and-one to restore a comfortable cushion. Teague then completely took over the perimeter, knocking down back-to-back threes to push the lead to 50–29. From there, Utica's depth closed the door. McCardle and Cain kept carving up the lane on ball screens, Wittman and Smith joined the scoring column with strong takes inside, and the reserves piled on late. Sand drilled a wing three, Frank Liriano (Sarasota, FL/Sarasota) knocked down a triple, and Zyon Lord (Bronx, NY/Salisbury School) punctuated the night with a fast-break dunk off a steal and assist from Cain to push the margin into the mid-20s. Keystone hit a few late threes to trim the final scoreline, but Utica's dominant stretch of play led the way to the 86–69 victory.

Utica (4-1, 0-0 Empire 8) returns to action following the Thanksgiving break as the team remains home to take on the SUNY Potsdam Bears. Tip off from Miga Court Inside the Clark Athletic Center is set for 7pm.