UTICA, NY - The Utica University men's basketball team secured the weekend sweep with a 94-77 win over the visiting Elmira College Soaring Eagles on Saturday evening.
Five different Pioneers finished in double scoring figures, led by Liam Teague (Guilderland, NY/Guilderland) and his 20 point outing (7-8 FG, 6-7 FT), followed by Ryan McCardle (Hurley, NY/Kingston) (19pts, 6-8 FG, 5-7 3pt, 2-2 FT), and Dayion Thompson (Beacon, NY/Kimball Union Academy) (15pts, 5-14, 3-10 3pt, 2-3 FT). Zyon Lord (Bronx, NY/Salisbury School) (4-6, 2-4 3pt, 1-2 FT), and Keyaton Parks (Albany, NY/Green Tech High Charter) (5-7 FG, 1-4 FT) each chipped in 11 points. Parks paced the rebounding efforts for the Pioneers, hauling in a team leading 10 boards, followed by McCardle with six, and Griffin Barasa (Clearwater, FL/Calvary Christian) with four. Defensively, McCardle managed a team high two steals, while a total of six Pioneers had at least one. Barasa also managed a team leading three blocks while Lord blocked a pair.
Elmira struck first, opening the game with back-to-back three-pointers to jump out to a 6–0 lead just over a minute in. Utica settled in behind early activity from Parks, who scored in the paint, pulled down multiple rebounds, and helped spark a response as the Pioneers chipped away. Jordan Cain (Syracuse, NY/West Genesee) and Lord each connected from deep to keep Utica within striking distance, while McCardle provided an offensive lift off the bench. A late first-half surge, highlighted by transition buckets from Dayion Thompson (Beacon, NY/Kimball Union Academy) and a pair of inside scores by Lord, allowed Utica to flip the momentum and carry a 40–31 lead into the break.
The second half turned into a back-and-forth battle early, with Elmira quickly trimming the deficit and briefly taking the lead behind Brown and Cardello. Utica answered every push. Cain hit a key three, Thompson knocked down shots from deep and in transition, and McCardle continued his hot shooting to swing momentum back in the Pioneers' favor. From there, Utica's pace and ball movement took over. Teague attacked the rim repeatedly, Smith buried timely threes, and Parks controlled the glass as the Pioneers steadily built separation. A late run pushed the lead into double digits, and Utica closed the game strong to secure a 94–77 victory.
Utica (13-4, 6-2 Empire 8) returns to action on Tuesday, January 27 as the team travels for the first cross-town clash of the season against SUNY Poly. Tip off from Utica, NY is set for 7:30pm.
