MONTCLAIR, NJ - The Utica University men's basketball team fell to the Montclair State University Red Hawks in the first round of the NCAA Division III Men's Basketball Tournament on Friday evening by a score of 79-57. 

Three Pioneers finished in double figures in scoring, led by Damien Call (Rome, NY/Rome Free Academy) with 19 points, seven rebounds, a block, and a steal. Hagen Foley (Albany, NY/Christian Brothers Academy) finished with 11 points, while adding three rebounds, a team high four assists, and a steal. Liam Teague (Guilderland, NY/Guilderland) finished with 10 points, seven rebounds, a block, and an assist as well. 

Utica would open the contest ahead by six points courtesy of a three from Foley, and a layup from Call. A pair of threes by the Red Hawks would knot the contest at nine with just under five minutes gone in the contest. The teams would trade blows, but the Pioneers would be able to pull ahead by two possessions with half of the opening frame remaining. The teams would continue to trade blows, knotting the score three times over two minutes before the Pioneers would be able to pull away again. The Red Hawks, after playing chase for the entirety of the first half, would be able to take its first lead of the contest, going up by one going into the locker rooms with the Pioneers trailing 33-32. 

Coming out of the break, the Red Hawks would begin firing on all cylinders, pushing the lead to double digits with less than five minutes gone in the second stanza. Utica would be able to cut the deficit to as little as six with half of the frame remaining, but the Red Hawks would keep the pressure coming. From there, Utica would be unable to swing the momentum back in its favor, allowing the Red Hawks to capitalize and push the lead to 20 late in the second stanza. Keeping the momentum in its favor, the Pioneers would close out the contest, falling by a score of 79-57.