UTICA, NY - The Utica University men's basketball team is set for a pair of matchups this week. The team will host nearby Hamilton College on Tuesday, December 9 with a tip off from Miga Court inside the Clark Athletic Center set for 7pm. The team will then travel to take on the Hobart College Statesmen on Saturday, December 13 with a tip off set for 3pm.
Follow Along: For those unable to attend, live video for Tuesday's matchup can be found here, and live stats here. Live video for Saturday's matchup can be found here, and live stats here.
Last Time Out: The 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), KeyatonParks (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.
Standouts: Keyaton Parks (Albany, NY/Green Tech High Charter) recorded his first double-double as a Pioneer as the junior posted 15 points and 10 rebounds in the 85-63 win over SUNY Potsdam. Parks did not miss in his time on the floor, going 6-6 from the field, and 3-3 in his trips to the free throw line. Playing both ends of the court, Parks managed an even five rebounds both offensively and defensively, while also nabbing a steal. Liam Teague (Guilderland, NY/Guilderland) also put together a standout outing, registering an impressive seven blocks last time out, which marked him one shy of the team single game record of eight that was set in 2018. Ryan McCardle (Hurley, NY/Kingston) has also been on fire from deep for the Pioneers, currently leading the nation in three point percentage with .667. The senior has managed to go 18-27 from beyond the arc so far this season, posting the third most made threes in the Empire 8.
A Look at Hamilton: The Hamilton College Continentals have posted a 2-6 record on the season, and have not yet managed to secure a road win. Leading the scoring efforts for the Continentals has been Matthew Rideout and Jalen Reese with each averaging double figures per game. Rideout averages 14.6 points per game and Reese 11.5 points per game. Reese has been the team's best shooter, good for .556 from the floor, while David Melson is the team's best from three point range, good for .462. Reese has been leading the rebounding efforts for the Continentals as well, averaging 8.5 rebounds per game, followed by Nate Raub with 5.8. Defensively, Jack Stowell leads the Continentals with a team high nine steals, while Reese, Melson, and Rideout each have swiped eight. Reese and Raub also lead the team with a total of 14 blocks a piece.
Scouting the Statesmen: The Hobart College Statesmen have posted a 6-2 record on the season and are 1-1 in Liberty League play. The Statesmen have managed to outscore their opponents by an average of 11 points per game this season, allowing an average of 71.6 points per game to opponents. Leading the scoring efforts for the Statesmen are Monty Nedd and Alex Moesch, with Nedd averaging a team high 14 points per game and Moesch 13.3 points per game. Dorian Paki has been the team's best shooter from the floor, good for .514 of his attempts this season, while Gabriel Bergeron leads the team from beyond the arc with a .480 three point percentage. Paki leads the rebounding efforts for the Statesmen, averaging six rebounds per game, followed by Allen Mordi with 5.1 rebounds per game. Defensively, Nedd leads the team with a total of 20 steals on the season, while Paki leads the team with a total of eight blocks.
Up Next: The team returns from the winter break to take on the RPI Engineers in the team's final non-conference matchup, and the end of the 2025 slate. Tip off on Tuesday, December 30 is set for 3pm from Miga Court inside the Clark Athletic Center.
