ROCHESTER, NY - The Utica University men's basketball team took down the St. John Fisher Cardinals in overtime fashion, defeating the hosts by a score of 80-73 on Saturday evening. 
 
Four Pioneers finished in double scoring figures, led by Dayion Thompson (Beacon, NY/Kimball Union Academy) with 22 points on the evening (6-11 FG, 2-4 3pt, 8-12 FT), followed by Jordan Cain (Syracuse, NY/West Genesee) with 14 (4-8 FG, 1-4 3pt, 5-6 FT), and both Liam Teague (Guilderland, NY/Guilderland) (4-6 FG, 5-8 FT) and Keyaton Parks (Albany, NY/Green Tech High Charter) (5-9 FG, 3-6 FT), who each chipped in 13. Both Teague and Parks led the rebounding efforts for the Pioneers, each hauling in 11 rebounds, followed by Ben Wittman (Sherrill, NY/Vernon-Verona-Sherrill) with four. Defensively, Thompson led the way with a team high five steals while Cain managed to swipe three, and Ryan McCardle (Hurley, NY/Kingston) a pair. Parks and Wittman each tallied a pair of blocks, while Teague added one of his own. 
 
Fisher struck first with a layup, but Utica answered by getting to the line where Zyon Lord (Bronx, NY/Salisbury School) hit a pair of free throws to tie it, and the Pioneers traded paint touches with Cain and Parks as the game settled in. Fisher briefly created separation with a three and a fastbreak finish in transition, pushing the margin to five. Utica kept punching back inside with Parks scoring again and later converted two free throws after multiple chances around the rim, while Thompson knocked down a three to keep it within reach. Still, Fisher's perimeter makes helped the Cardinals stretch the lead to double digits late in the half. Utica trimmed it at the stripe and in transition, where Thompson came up with multiple steals, finished a fastbreak layup, and Cain hit two free throws, sending the Pioneers to halftime down 35–29.
 
Out of the break, Fisher maintained control early, using another three and more interior scoring to keep Utica at arm's length. The Pioneers chipped away at the line and finally found a big swing when Ryan McCardle (Hurley, NY/Kingston) buried a three to make it 42–37. Utica stayed within striking distance with stops and timely buckets as Cain pushed the pace for a fastbreak layup, Thompson hit a three, and Teague scored in the paint before a key moment flipped the game.  With Utica down one, Fisher was hit with a technical, and Thompson converted the free throws to put the Pioneers on top, 64–63. From there, Utica leaned on Teague who hit a jumper to extend the lead, but Fisher answered at the line and briefly tied it. Parks scored inside to regain the advantage, and Thompson answered another Fisher tie with a strong finish in the paint to make it 70–68. After Utica pushed the lead to three at the line in the final 30 seconds, Fisher drilled a game-tying three with three seconds left to force overtime at 71–71.
 
In the extra frame, Fisher struck first, but Ben Wittman (Sherrill, NY/Vernon-Verona-Sherrill) answered with a layup and then hit a free throw to give Utica the lead. The Pioneers made the closing stretch chaos-proof as Thompson came up with another steal, cashed in a fastbreak layup, and then iced it at the line with multiple free throws in the final minute. Utica's defense finished it off with late stops, highlighted by blocks from Wittman and Parks, closing out an 80–73 overtime win.
 
Utica (15-5, 8-3 Empire 8) returns to action on Friday, February 6 as the team returns home to take on the Alfred University Saxons. Tip off from Miga Court inside the Clark Athletic Center is set for 7:30pm.