ELMIRA, NY - The Utica University men's basketball team traveled to Elmira to face the Soaring Eagles on Friday night. The Pioneers delivered with an impressive offensive showing, securing a 100-80 victory over Elmira.
Hagen Foley (Albany, NY/Christian Brothers Academy) led all scorers with 26 points, shooting an impressive 68 percent from the field and 4-6 from beyond the arc. Foley also dished out five assists and grabbed two rebounds while contributing two steals defensively. Dayion Thompson (Beacon, NY/Kimball Union Academy) had a well-rounded performance with 21 points, four assists, and two rebounds, while Damien Call (Rome, NY/Rome Free Academy) was a force inside, recording a double-double with 16 points and 11 rebounds. Call also recorded a block, a steal, and five assists, making his presence felt on both ends of the court. Ryan McCardle (Hurley, NY/Kingston) provided key minutes off the bench, contributing eight points, three rebounds, and three steals. Ben Wittman (Sherrill, NY/Vernon-Verona-Sherrill) added seven points, four rebounds, three assists, and a block in a solid all-around effort.
Right from the jump, Utica set the tone. After Elmira opened the game with a jumper, the Pioneers wasted no time responding as Devon Flynn (Red Hook, NY/Red Hook) finished a tough layup off a perfect feed from Call to even the score. Utica's offense quickly found its rhythm. Thompson (Beacon, got going early, hitting a deep three on a fast break to give the Pioneers a 15-9 lead just five minutes into the game. Not long after, Jordan Cain (Syracuse, NY/West Genesee) made his presence felt, driving into the lane and finishing through contact for an and-one, extending the lead to 18-9. Foley, as expected, was unstoppable from the field. The sharpshooter nailed a deep three-pointer with six minutes left in the half, pushing Utica's lead to double digits at 30-20.
On the defensive end, the Pioneers completely shut down Elmira's attempts to gain momentum. Call and Wittman locked down the paint, while McCardle came off the bench to provide a defensive spark with three steals. With two minutes left in the half, Call grabbed an offensive rebound and muscled in a second-chance layup, putting Utica up 41-31. As the half closed, Thompson knocked down another smooth jumper, sending Utica into the locker room firmly in control, 43-33.
The second half was all Pioneers. Elmira hit a quick floater, but Foley immediately silenced the crowd with his third three-pointer of the game, pushing the lead back to 13. Four minutes into the half, Cain put on a show, crossing up his defender, spinning into the lane, and finishing a dazzling layup to make it 50-37. Not to be outdone, Flynn grabbed an offensive rebound and powered through contact for another lay-in, extending Utica's lead. Elmira tried to fight back with a three from Tyler Cardello, but the Pioneers weren't having it. On the next possession, Call went to work in the post, sinking a contested hook shot before Foley drilled a transition three-pointer, his fourth of the game, to push Utica's lead to 64-47.
From that point on, it was a highlight reel for the Pioneers. Thompson intercepted a lazy pass, raced down the floor, and finished a fast-break layup to push the lead to 75-55 with seven minutes remaining. McCardle swiped another steal and sprinted for an easy bucket. Wittman buried a clutch three, further demoralizing Elmira's defense. Call sealed his double-double with two free throws, capping off another brilliant all-around performance. With just two minutes left, Thompson put the exclamation point on the game with a deep three, extending the lead to 98-78. Foley closed things out with a final driving layup, helping the Pioneers hit the 100-point mark for the first time this season.
Utica (16-7, 10-4 Empire 8) returns to action tomorrow, Saturday, February 15 as the team takes on the Keuka College Wolves. Tip off from Keuka Park, NY is set for 3pm.
