UTICA, NY - The Utica University men's basketball team defeated the Houghton University Highlanders by a score of 80-68 in the first round of the Empire 8 Conference Men's Basketball Tournament on Saturday afternoon. With the win, the Pioneers will advance to the tournament semifinal.
 
Five different Pioneers finished with double figures in scoring. Damien Call (Rome, NY/Rome Free Academy) led the Pioneers with a double double (15 pts, 10 reb) along with a team high five assists. Dayion Thompson (Beacon, NY/Kimball Union Academy) chipped in 14 points going a perfect 9-9 from the free throw line, as well as a steal. Isaiah Smith (Amsterdam, NY/Schalmont) was a spark off the bench for the Pioneers, contributing 14 points. Hagen Foley (Albany, NY/Christian Brothers Academy) and Liam Teague (Guilderland, NY/Guilderland) each chipped in 11 points with Foley tallying two assists and a steal, and Teague with nine total rebounds and a block. 
 
To open the frame, Thompson would find Call with an alley-oop on the opening possession. Utica would then open the contest getting out by two possessions early off a tip-in layup from Devon Flynn (Red Hook, NY/Red Hook) and a three from Call. Houghton would make quick work of the early deficit with a pair of layups and converting on an and-one to take the lead with four and a half minutes gone in the first half. Both teams would trade baskets, with the Pioneers being able to capitalize on turnover and missed baskets by the Highlanders to get back out to a two possession lead with half of the frame remaining. Houghton would be able to fully cut the deficit, but the Pioneers would immediately swing the momentum back into its favor. From there, Utica would go on an 18-7 run, sparked by a layup from Flynn to carry the Pioneers into the locker room with a 37-20 lead at halftime. 
 
Coming out of the break, Thompson would start the scoring for the Pioneers with a jumper in the mid range and a three to get the Pioneer lead back out to double digits. Houghton would begin to chip away at the deficit, coming within two of the Pioneers, but Foley would push the lead back out to two possessions with a three with just under five minutes gone in the frame. From there, it would take almost three minutes for either team to score, and it would be Smith that would break the ice for Utica. The Pioneers would push the pace once more, quickly getting back out to a triple digit, and growing lead with over half the frame gone. Utica would be able to get out to as much as 14 in the final five and a half minutes of the contest, but the Highlanders would be ready to push back the other way. The Pioneer defense would be able to stifle the Highlanders in the final minutes of the contest, squashing the Highlanders hopes of mounting a comeback. Utica would walk away with the victory by a score of 80-68. 
 
Utica (19-7,13-4 Empire 8) will square off in a semifinal matchup against Nazareth on Wednesday, February 26 on Miga Court inside the Clark Athletic Center. Tip off time is yet to be determined.