UTICA, NY - The Utica University men's basketball team took down the visiting Hamilton College Continentals in a tightly contested matchup by a score of 69-64 on Tuesday evening. 

Four Pioneers finished in double scoring figures in Dayion Thompson (Beacon, NY/Kimball Union Academy) (21 pts, 4-11 FG, 1-7 3pt, 12-13 FT), Keyaton Parks (Albany, NY/Green Tech High Charter) (17pts, 8-9 FG, 1-2 FT), Jordan Cain (Syracuse, NY/West Genesee) (15 pts, 3-11 FG, 1-3 3pt, 8-10 FT), and Liam Teague (Guilderland, NY/Guilderland) (12pts, 5-10 FG, 2-3 3pt). Parks added to his stat line with 10 rebounds, recording his second consecutive double-double, while Teague also managed a double-double with a team leading 11 rebounds. Defensively, Teague led the way with a team high three blocks and a pair of steals, while Parks also managed a pair of blocks, and Cain a pair of steals. 

Utica and Hamilton traded punches all night in a tight, high-tempo game. Hamilton came out hot from the arc and in the paint to build an early lead, but Utica kept answering with inside finishes from Parks and free throws from Cain to stay within a possession or two. A three from Liam Teague (Guilderland, NY/Guilderland) and a late first-half push that included drives from Cain and a tip-in from Parks helped trim the deficit to 39–35 going into the break, setting the stage for a second-half surge.

Out of the locker room, Utica started chipping away immediately as Parks went back to work at the rim and Teague and Thompson heated up from the perimeter and in transition. A flurry of stops with blocks at the rim, defensive boards, and live-ball steals fueled a run that flipped a five-point deficit into a multi-possession Utica lead in the mid-half stretch. Hamilton made one last push in the final two minutes, getting to the line and scoring quickly to cut it to a one-possession game, but Thompson and Cain repeatedly stepped to the stripe and knocked down clutch free throws in the closing seconds to seal a 69–64 Utica win.

Utica (6-1, 0-0 Empire 8) returns to action on Saturday, December 13 as the team travels to take on the Hobart College Statesmen. Tip off from Geneva, NY is set for 3pm.