UTICA, NY - The Utica University men's basketball team is set for a week-long road trip. The team will travel for the first cross-town clash of the season this week, taking on SUNY Poly on Tuesday, January 27 with a tip-off set for 7:30pm. The team will then head west to take on Nazareth University on Friday, January 30 beginning at 7:30pm, before taking on St. John Fisher on Saturday, January 31 with a tip set for 4pm.
Follow Along: For those unable to attend, live video for Tuesday's matchup can be found here, and live stats here. Live video for Friday's matchup can be found here, and live stats here. Live video for Saturday's matchup can be found here, and live stats here.
Last Time Out: The 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.
Standout Performer: Liam Teague (Guilderland, NY/Guilderland) powered Utica to a perfect 2–0 week in Empire 8 play, averaging a team-best 19 points per game while shooting an efficient 59.1 percent from the field across the Pioneers' pair of home victories. Teague opened the week with 18 points, six rebounds, and two assists in Utica's 77–70 win over Keuka, then followed with a game-high 20 points on 7-of-8 shooting in a 94–77 victory over Elmira. He was a consistent presence at the free-throw line, converting 12-of-14 attempts on the week, and added six total assists with just one turnover. In addition to leading the team in scoring, Teague contributed on both ends of the floor, averaging 4.0 rebounds per game
Bench Breakout: Ryan McCardle (Hurley, NY/Kingston) has emerged as one of Utica's most efficient perimeter threats this season, averaging 9.0 points per game while shooting 50.0 percent from the field. A key floor-spacer in the Pioneers' rotation, McCardle is knocking down an elite 54.5 percent from three-point range (36-for-66), ranking him among the most efficient shooters in the Empire 8. His ability to stretch defenses has played a major role in Utica's conference-best perimeter efficiency, as the Pioneers sit second in the league in three-point field goal percentage. McCardle impressed last week, going 6-9 across the Pioneers' pair of games, and 8-11 overall from the field.
Scouting Poly: SUNY Poly enters the matchup as one of the top teams in the Empire 8, posting a 14–3 overall record and a 7–1 conference mark while averaging 75.9 points per game. The Wildcats feature a balanced scoring attack led by Anthony Rose, one of the conference's top scorers at 18.1 points per game, shooting 50.7 percent from the field while also contributing across the stat sheet. Kamryn Comstock adds interior strength, averaging 10.4 points and 7.1 rebounds per game, while Oumaru Hydara provides efficient scoring and versatility at 10.6 points per game on 56.9 percent shooting, including 47.2 percent from three. On the perimeter, William Scanlon is a major floor-spacer, knocking down 45.1 percent from beyond the arc. As a team, SUNY Poly shoots 48.5 percent from the field, averages 14.6 assists per game, and owns a +4.8 rebounding margin, with ball movement, efficiency, and balance driving its success on both ends of the floor.
A Look at Naz: Nazareth enters the matchup as one of the top teams in the Empire 8, posting a 12–5 overall record and a 7–1 conference mark while averaging 77.4 points per game. The Golden Flyers are led by Jaylen Savage, the team's top scorer at 18.0 points per game, shooting 48.8 percent from the field while also ranking among the conference leaders in assists. Nazareth's interior presence is anchored by Merritt Holly, who averages 14.4 points and 10.4 rebounds per game while shooting an efficient 61.1 percent from the floor. Luke Insley adds another dynamic element, contributing 11.4 points per game and serving as the team's primary playmaker, while Tyler Putney provides perimeter shooting at 45.8 percent from three. As a team, Nazareth shoots 48.2 percent from the field, ranks among the Empire 8 leaders in three-point percentage (.393), and owns a +3.4 turnover margin, with efficiency, ball security, and balance driving its success
Breaking Down Fisher: St. John Fisher enters the matchup with a 10–7 overall record and a 6–2 mark in Empire 8 play, averaging 72.3 points per game while playing one of the more physical styles in the conference. The Cardinals are led by Maximus Michalski, the team's top scorer at 12.8 points per game, shooting an efficient 55.1 percent from the field while also serving as a strong interior presence. Andrew Violante adds scoring and defensive pressure on the perimeter, averaging 9.1 points per game and ranking among the team leaders in steals, while Alex Hayes provides consistent outside shooting at 43.3 percent from three. Mekhi Gidney gives Fisher another reliable scoring option, contributing 8.5 points per game while shooting nearly 80 percent from the free-throw line. As a team, St. John Fisher averages 14.2 assists per game, shoots 33.5 percent from three, and ranks among the conference leaders in steals per game, with defensive activity and physicality driving its success.
Up Next: The team returns home on Friday, February 6 to take on Alfred University. Tip off from Miga Court inside the Clark Athletic Center is set for 7:30pm.
