UTICA, NY - The Utica university men's basketball team took the win over SUNY Potsdam in emphatic 85-63 fashion on Tuesday evening. 

Four Pioneers managed to finish in double scoring figures in Dayion Thompson (Beacon, NY/Kimball Union Academy) (23 pts, 10-16 FG 3-7 3PT), Keyaton Parks (Albany, NY/Green Tech High Charter) (15 pts, 6-6 FG, 3-3 FT), Jordan Cain (Syracuse, NY/West Genesee) (4-8 FG, 1-2 3PT, 4-5 FT), and Ryan McCardle (Hurley, NY/Kingston) (4-7 FG, 3-4 3PT, 1-2 FT). Parks managed a team leading 10 rebounds on the evening, securing his first double-double as a Pioneer. Liam Teague (Guilderland, NY/Guilderland) also managed to haul in 10 rebounds, while adding on seven blocks to his statline, marking him one shy of the single-game record of eight. Defensively, Cain and Griffin Barasa (Clearwater, FL/Calvary Christian) each managed a pair of steals, while four other Pioneers in McCardle, Zyon Lord (Bronx, NY/Salisbury School), Thompson, and Jeffrey Manuel (Syracuse, NY/Liverpool) each recorded a block. 

Utica dictated the tempo from the opening tip and put its stamp on the game early. Thompson got rolling immediately with a strong drive for the first bucket, then followed it up with back-to-back threes to make it 8–2. SUNY Potsdam answered once, but every time they scored, Utica punched right back. Barasa, Teague and Parks all got touches as the Pioneers pushed the lead to double figures. Parks dominated the interior, converting through contact and stacking made free throws, while Jordan Cain (Syracuse, NY/West Genesee) turned a steal into two more points at the line to stretch it to 22–8. From there, the depth really showed. Ben Wittman (Sherrill, NY/Vernon-Verona-Sherrill) and McCardle attacked the midrange, and Manuel drilled a wing three off a second-chance opportunity as Utica surged ahead 28–12. By the time McCardle found Thompson for a run-out bucket and then McCardle hit a late three, the Pioneers had built a 48–32 cushion at halftime and all the momentum.

Utica came out of the locker room and slammed the door. Parks threw down a statement dunk off a feed from Cain, then followed a pair of Teague misses with a powerful tip-in to push the margin into the 20s. Down the stretch, the Pioneers' balance and energy finished the job. McCardle buried another three, Teague registered a series of emphatic blocks at the rim, and Cain, Smith, Manuel and Wittman all chipped in scoring as the lead ballooned to nearly 30. The closing group of Frank Liriano (Sarasota, FL/Sarasota), Luke Sherman (Saratoga Springs, NY/Schuylerville), Zachary Petucci (Herkimer, NY/Herkimer), Carter Deak (West Winfield, NY/Mount Markham) and Phoenix Weydig (Kenwood, NY/Vernon-Verona-Sherrill) saw the game out, with Liriano adding a free throw late to cap an 85–63 wire-to-wire Utica control.

Utica (5-1, 0-0 Empire 8) returns to action on Tuesday, December 9 as the team hosts nearby Hamilton College. Tip off from Miga Court inside the Clark athletic Center is set for 7pm.